KING AT SANDRINGHAM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1938, Page 5

KING AT SANDRINGHAM

SHOOTING PARTY IN SNOW AND SLUSH. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, December 30. The King and a party of friends are shooting at Sandringham today, in melting snow and slush. They were joined at’ t lunch at the Anmer Club by Queen Mary, who motored along snow-covered lanes. FIERCE ENCOUNTER REPORTED DAMAGE TQ REBEL SHIPS. SIGNALLING SEEN FROM HOUSE IN GIBRALTAR. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 30. The Gibraltar correspondent of the British United Press says a member of the crew of the Jose Luiz Diez states that the vessel, after repairing damage due to an encounter on August 27 was awaiting a chance to slip through the insurgents’ cordon outside Gibraltar, owing to the expiration of the time limit Britain had imposed for sanctuary.

“As the Jose Luiz Diez crept out without lights,” the sailor said, “I saw a house in Gibraltar sending up -rockets. suggesting signalling, whereupon the rebels attacked. The Jose retaliated with six torpedoes and then headed for refuge in British waters. The rebels continued' to attack, the Jupiter approaching and ordering us to surrender. The Jose rammed the Jupiter with terrific force, dragging her aground at Europa Point. While members of the crew of the Jose machinegunned 'the Jupiter’s decks, the Jose grounded in the shallows of Villa Catalan Bay.”

Two English destroyers and one French destroyer stood by and directed searchlights on the Jose, assisting her to land her casualties. The wounded were admitted to hospital in Gibraltar. The members of the crew added: “I believe a torpedo hit the rebel sloop Calvo Sotelo, which has not yet been located.”

The Canarias, in shelling the Jose, damaged two houses in Catalan Bay, injuring several people, including a village policeman. It is understood that the Jose was damaged amidships, chiefly in the engine room.