GRAVE SITUATION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 380, 11 March 1937, Page 5

GRAVE SITUATION

ASSAULT ON MADRID MOBILISATION ORDERED Government Calling on Young Men. Press Association—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) Madrid, March 10. The Government has ordered the immediate mobilisation of all able men aged from 21 to 25i, in view of the gravity of the situation, thus strengthening the forces by 100,000. The pressure of the Italian columns on the Guadalajara front is terrifific. Bombers are incessantly active. A message from Salamanca states: “The insurgents marching against Guadalajara advanced a further ten miles on a two mile front and occupied the Valdisrenas Heights, 16 miles from their objective.

ARMS FOR SPAIN FATE OF CAPTURED SHIP Fire Still Burning in Hold. Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11.50 a.m.) London, March 10. According to 'Wireless reports. l , the Spanish steamier Mar Cantabrico, which was carrying a shipment ot arms from America, has a fire still burning in number two hold and is steaming slowly in the direction of Pasajas. French fishing boats picked up the bodies of two seamen from the Mar Cantabrico. Both were shot in the head. SHIPPING TO SPAIN BILL FOR CONTROL British Government’s Proposals. Press Association—Copyright. (Received 12.50 p.m.) ■ London, March TO. The Government’s proposals for controlling shipping to Spain are contained in the Merchant Shipping (Spanish Frontiers Observation) Bill, the text of which is it/sued to-day. Ships, going to Spain must embark an observation officer at a prescribed place. The officer may require the production of documents relating to the cargo, or cause any" package to be opened, and may require the production of any passenger’s passport - and be present at the unloading of goode or the disembarkation of persons at any port in Spanish territory or adjacent waters. The Master or any person aboard obstructing the officer or giving false information will be liable to a fine not exceeding £lOOO. The Board of Trade is.' empowered to exempt ships regularly engaged in the Spanish trade from certain provisions on condition that they carry an observing officer and pay the additional expenses incurred. The Bill confers powers on naval officers* to stop and examine file papsrs of ships in Spanish territorial waters. Masters failing to cohi-ply will be liable to a fine of £lOO.

PLANS FOILED Secret Service Organisation Press Association —Copyright. London, March 10. Elaborate precautions taken for the safe arrival ot the Spanish steamer Mar Cantabrico with a cargo of arms from America were defeated by the still more remarkable secret service organisation under General Franco's contol, combined with the stupidity of the Loyalist authorities at Santander. Those authorities, for an undisclosed reason, refrained from signalling the steamer that she could enter the harbour, resulting in her aimlessly cruising about outside and eventually becoming a victim to the rebel cruiser Canarias. i The Mar Cantabrico. far from having been sunk in flames as was reported. is still afloat and is being escorted to Fehrol, a rebel port in the north-west of Spain. The Canarias has exact information

regarding the Mar Cantabrico’s movements and was apprised of her disguising herself by way ot camouflage as the Newcastle steamer Adda. The final elements of the mystery were cleared up when Pablo Juan 800. one of the Mar Cantabrico’s crew, arrived at Arcachon after being picked up by a French trawler. 800 told bow the vessel arrived off Santander on Monday, but was denied entry for 12 hours. The Canarias hove in sight and began a bombardment lasting tor four hours, giving a bad list to the Mar Cantabrico and causing a fire in a hold.

"The rebels boarded us and took off the passengers," said 800. “Then things began to happen. No quarter was given. Rebels pursued the crew to all corners of the ship and shot them down. An Italian and I hid and by a miracle were not discovered. I shall never forget the sharp bark of revolvers. Each shot meant that another of my comrades was hurled into eternity.

“Finally, the Italian and I jumped overboard. The rebels fired at us in the water. The Italian was no swimmer and slipped from my grasp and disappeared. I had given up hope when I was hauled aboard by French fishermen.”

The Mar Cantabrico was rushed out of the port of New' York for Spain with a cargo of war material just before the United States neutrality law took effect.