The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-02
BY CLIFFORD L. DAY
Copyright 1897. United Prc,s)

LONDON, June 2. (UP)-Ger-
many and Italy, dispatching fleets
Of their most powerful warShips
to Spanish Mediterranean waters,
threatened last night to wage war
against loyalist Spain in event of
any "new emergency"
The threat, announced official
ly in Rome, came on the heels %
a Franco British warning To
Chancellor Adolf Hitler Of Ger
many and his fascist ally, Premi-
er Benito Mussolini, that unless
they refrain from angry acts Of
reprisal all Europe may be plung-
ed into war.
Rome announced defiantly that
the two dictators are standing
together" in preparation for any
new attack on their ships by the
Spanish loyalists.
II Duce and Der Fuchrcr were
said to be ready to join in "arm-
ed action" if another incident
arises - such as the bombing Of
the Nazi pocket battleship"
Deutschland with loss Of % lives
by loyalist airplanes.
Germany, avenging the Deutsch-
lands dead, sent five warships in
to the loyalist southern seaport Of
Almeria Monday and destroyed
the ancient town with 300 big
shells, leaving a toll Of 200 dead
and wounded.
Mussoiini's own newspaper, the
Giornale DItalia, said Italy would
send punitive army to Spain to
"exterminate" the loyalists if the
Valencia government fails TO con
troll irresponsible foreign clc-
ments."
The "foreign elements" refer
red particularly to Russia, staunch
ally Of the loyalists who was be
lieved by many diplomats to hold
the key to the outcome of the crl-
sis.
Should the Soviet, which is
maintaining a cautious silence, de-
eide to renounce her non-intcr-
vention pledge - as Germany and
Italy have done - and plunge
intellectually into the loyalist
cause there would be scant hope
of averting general war.
Germany sent fleet of mighty
warships into the Spanish Mcdi-
terranean waters and other ships
were taking aboard ammunition
at Kiel and other Nazi bases, pre-
pairing to move at moments no
tice.
The warships of both Germany
and Italy had orders to fire TO
kill" if they were approached by
any Spanish loyalisr ship or a'r-
plane.
Italy's fleet was in readiness
for action and Mussolini was said
to be preparing to send larger
warships into the trouble zone TO
replace his smaller vessels already
there.
Germany, although her show Of
armed strength was ominously
warlike, insisted that her national
honor had been avenged by the
destruction Of Almcria and that
she would not take any further
reprisals unless provoked by "rcd
aggression"
Great Britain. working in close
cooperation with France, strug-
gled to liquidate the crisis by a
policy of "stalling." If sufficient
time can elapse without some new
incidents" nazi and fascist tenn
pers will cool, it was believed
here.
Capt. Anthony Eden, British
foreign secretary, told the house
of Commons that Great Britain
was doing her utmost to prevent
aggravation of the situation"
Britain sent a protest to the
Spanish loyalist governments at
Valencia, complaining Of loyal
list air raid on Palma, in the Bal
carlo island Of Majorca on May
26 in which the British destroyer
Hardy narrowly escaped being hit.
The Italian ship Palmetto, lying
near the Hardy, was struck by
bombs and several Of her crew
were killed.
It was this incident that prompt
ed Mussolini, acting in concert
with Hitler, to withdraw from the
international non Intervention
committee and refuse to partici-
pate in the naval neutrality pa
troll Of Spanish coasts.
The British protest to Valencia