The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-04
German Commander
Refused Any Return,
CONTINUED from Page ~

customary, when they passed each
other of the spanish coast on the
night Of January I. (The Blackhili's
British owners agreed that the re-
port was false and that the Koen-
igsberg and Blackhill never were
near each other.)
Onicial C0mmunique
The official communique on the
alleged seizure Of the steamer Pluto
gave the impression that the ship
was forced to steam two hours In
the direction OF Bilbao and then
freed. Headed "alother act Of vio-
lence by the 1panish bolshevists
against q German steamer" the
communique said:
According to reports received
Sunday another fragrant violation
of German sovereign rights has been
committed by red Spanish patrol
boats on the Spanish north coast.
"The captain Of the German
steamer Pluto reports that the
steamer on December 20, 81 miles
north Of Bilbao, was halted by shots
from two large red fishing steamers
and forced for two hours to change
It's course toward Bilbao.
ut follows herefrom that the red
authorities In Spain O long time
ago ordered their naval forces 10
proceed against German merchant
ships even II they are far outside
Spanish territorial waters. This
further confirms that the German
steamer Palos also was seized far
outside Spanish territorial limits,
fact which 1t Is recalled was denied
by red authorities"
Pastoral Letter
Munich, Jan. 4-(U.P.)--A pas
toral letter calling on all German
Catholics to combat communism was
read yesterday in all Catholic pull
pits throughout the Reich. In ac-
cordance with the Pope's recent ut
terances, the letter flayed bolshe-
vism, praised Adolf Hitler for COM
batting 1t, but denounced the Neo-
heather movement In Germany and
protested against Nazi treatment OF
the church. The letter described boil
shevism as the gate Of hell and
vanguard Of the anti-Christ which
st. Paul In one OF his letters call
ed the 'myster yof iniquity'" De-
claring that "Fuehrer Chancellor
Hitler sighted bolshevism from afar
and concentrated all his endeavors
upon averting 1t from Germany and
the Occident," the letter said that
German bishops consider 1t their
duty to assist the head Of the Ger
man Reich In he struggle Of de-
tense with all means derived from
sacramental powers"
Against Bolshevism
The letter dealt extensively with
the Catholic clergy's anti-bolshevist
activities In the past and, turning
10 present conditions In Germany, 1t
complained about the lever watch
full distrust looking ct every faith
full Catholic AZ q secret foe OF the
state. even suspecting Marian
congregational as being o den OF
conspirators." 1t charged the Neo-
Paganism movement with aiming TO
Danish Christianity, from the ma
ton and substituting for 1t a reli-
gion based on flesh and blood. Tx
pressing regret over the Nazi schools
dictatorship, the letter stated that
pressure being brought to bear up
on Catholic parents condolences In
connection with school issues is be-
coming intolerable."
viii Not Negotiate
Valencia, Jan. 4 - U.P0 - The
loyalist government will refuse TO
negotiate with German warship
commanders over seizure Of loyalist
ships but will seek diplomatic action
TO meet what 1t calls an act OF war,
an ofiicial tsatement said today.
Commenting on q request by the
admiral commanding German ships
of the Bay Of Biscay for return OF
the cargo and a passenger taken
from the German freiRhter Palos--
the reason for the German retalia-
tory seizures-the ofIicial statement
said:
1.-THE government OF Bantander
has Examined the situation and re-
fused to accept the proposals OF the
German admiral owing TO the wide
Disparity between the exercise OF q
legitimate right and the realization
Of an act Of aggression and war.
Neither will the government
reply directly TO the admiral--not
only because OF the improper form
In which his proposal was sent but
because Of It's tone, which was suit
abel only for colony.
an view OF ell these incidents,
which fully confirm the Spanish
thesis regarding the growing dam
ger Of an extention OF the conflict
] incidents which Is not rapidly re.
strained will lead to irreparabie con.
sequences the government has de.
cided TO treat the new situation In
the diplomatic manner which ita
extraordinary gravity necessitates."
Japan has promised 10 help the
South Mancliuria railway 1inancl-