City Bombarded

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 7

City Bombarded

MANY PEOPLE KILLED THE FIGHT FOR MADRID. REBELS’ BATTERIES REINFORCED. United Press Assn.—Eleo. Tel. Copyright. (Received July 24, 11 a.m.) MADRID, July 23. The Insurgents within twelve hours twice bombarded the principal streets of the city. It Is estimated that the bombardments In which 600 projectiles were fired, killed or Injured 160 people. Incendiary shells started several fires. The projectiles fell In groups of four, suggesting that the insurgents’ batteries have been heavily reinforced as a prefaoe to further attacks on the capital. BRITISH STEAMER SHELLED. SPANISH REFUGEES ON BOARD. ATTACK BY REBEL WARSHIPS. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, July 23. A me'ssage from Santander, on the north coast of Spain, states that insurgent warships fired eight or nine shells at the British steamer MacGregor after she had left Santander for France with 200 refugees on board. Some of the shells fell close, but the MacGregor held boldly on her oourse until she was well clear of the three-mile limit, when a British destroyer closed in for her protection. This is the' first time a refugee ship has been fired upon when refugees were ou board. The Santander correspondent of the Times says five of the shells were fired at the MacGregor when she was inside the three-mile limit and the others when she was outside - . ADMIRALTY REPORT.

WARNING SHOTS ONLY. ALL WELL CLEAR OF SHIP. (Official Wireless.) (Received July 24, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 23. The MacGregor had 15 refugees aboard from Santander when she was signalled to stop by the Almirante Cervera, which subsequently fired several warning shots, but all were well clear of the ship. The MacGregor nevertheless proceeded and passed out of territorial waters when she immediately came undpr the protection of the British destroyer Kempenfeldt and proceeded on her way without further interference. The captain of the Almirante Cervera then signalled that the MacGregor, by not obeying the order to stop had taken advantage of his humanitarian feelings, but he was not taking further action. The British naval reports make It clear that the Almirante fired warning shots only and did not make any attempt to hit the MacGregor. PROTECTION OF SHIPPING. REPLY Tj> LABOUR CRITICISM. WILL NOT RISK LIVES. United P '-s Assn -Fife Tel Copyright. LONDON, July 23. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A. Duff Cooper, in the House of Commons, replied to Captain Wedgwood Benn (Labour —Gorton), who complained of lack of protection of British merchant ships entering Spanish territorial waters to evacuate refugees. The Minister said: “These refugee ships are volunteers just as much as those volunteers from Italy, Germany, England and France who are alleged to be fighting on either side. They are participating in the war. Do they expect the British Navy to see them safely into harbour? What is it the •member for Gorton suggests?” Captain Wedgwood Benn: “Common humanity.” Mr Duff Cooper: “Common humanity in this case would mean firing on Spanish ships, entering the war and risking the lives of British sailors for a cause which nobody In Britain outside the Labour Party thinks worth fighting for.” The First Lord emphasised that the British Government would protect British ships on the high seas, hut said that when they entered territorial waters they forfeited the right to British protection.