ATTACK AT SEA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1938, Page 7

ATTACK AT SEA

OFF COAST OF NORFOLK AUXILIARY VESSEL FIRES ON MERCHANTMAN. BOTH SHIPS BELIEVED TO BE SPANISH. .-(lndependent Cables.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 2. The British steamer Monkwood has sent a radio message to the Admiralty, stating that an armed auxiliary, believed to be Spanish, is firing on a Spanish merchantman, seven miles from the Cromer lightship, off the coast of Norfolk. The merchantman is on fire. Gunfire shook windows at Cromer and flashes were seen seaward. Excited crowds gathered on the clifftops. The merchantman’s name is given as the Cartegena. The Monkwood’s radio stated that the auxiliary, by means of a flag signal, ordered the Cartegena m “Heave to or I fire.” A lifeboat has left Cromer for sea and other vessels later rushed to the merchantman’s aid. The Cartegena is not listed, but shippers believe that she might be the Spanish vessel Cantabria, which left Gravesend yesterday for Immingham, en route to Leningrad. The harbourmaster at Immingham stated that a berth was booked for the Cantabria in the evening but there was no news of her. The steamer Giensheil is reported to be standing by the Cantabria. A • hert wave listener states that he heard a report of ten of the crew being picked up.