The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-01
British Destroyer
 Is Attacked At Seq
CcOntinued from Page D

had received urgent orders to pro caed ct once to the Spanish coast near Cape San Antonio.
 No reason was assigned for the emergency order, but 1t was re- ported in reliable quarters at Qi- braltar that foreign pirate" sub- marines had been sighted off Va 1encia.
 Loyallsts Attacked
 Farther up the coast, off Sosa Mar in Catalonia, an unidentified sib- marine twice attacked three Span- ash Loyalist merchantmen yester- day, but was driven off by an armed trawler escorting the merchant ships, The trawler and submarine ex- changed shots but no damage was done.
 It appeared today as if the orders to the Hyperion and hardy to go to the Valencia area might have been connected with the attack on the Havock.
 Only today the admiralty here announced that the two destroyers were sent to the Cape San Antonio zone where the Havock was attack ed. It was added that the order was given by the destroyer admiral from his flagship the cruiser Gala tea.
 Comes at Serious Moment
 The attack on the Havock come ct Q moment when there is con- siderable demand for navy conveys for British merchantmen in the Mediterranean.
 There is an average of 100 British merchantmen of more than 5000 tons each in the Mediterranean each day. Because of recent myster- ious attacks by submarines and air- planes on merchant ships, all the way from Gibraltar straits to the DardanelleS, the government through the admiralty ordered on August l7 that if any merchant ship was at- lacked without warning by any sub- marine, British ships were flatly authorized to counter-attack.
 But an attack on 0 British war ship was more serious business, and behind 1t all there were most grave implications.
 British experts concede the Span- ash nationalistS one submarine. But merchantmen, loyalists, Russian, British, French, Greek, Danish, panamaian, haev been attacked all over the Mediterranean.
 Spain BIames Italy
 The Spanish loyalist government has charged openly that the sub- marines are Italian ones with Ital- ian crews, operating under orders of the Italian government in the Span- tsh nationalist cause and presum- ably basing on Italian ports.
 It was learned today that most active diplomatic discussions are under way between Britain and France, reviewing the entire posi- ton in relation to Spain and the Mediterranean. Spanish neutrality and the presence of Italian vol. unteers" on the nationalist side in the civil war are included.
 Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Roger Cambon, charge daffairs of the French embassy, are the ne- gotiators.
 France Ready To Act
 Paris, Sept. l-O-The govern- ment, gravely concerned over re- peated attacks on merchantmen in the Mediterranean, has determined to take the necessary steps" to "re- establish freedom of communica- tions," 1t was said in diplomatic quarters today.
 A series of urgent conferences be- tween the British and French gov- ernmentS, is was understood, has re- suited in 0 decision to call Q meet- ing of Mediterranean powers at Geneva during the league session which starts Sept. 10.
 The powers will be asked to study the situation created by l6 known torpedoings and air bombing during recent weeks.
 Greece and Turkey will be invited Co participate, ir was understood.
 Disclosure that the government would take necessary steps" to re- establish freedom of the Mediterra- mean did not go into detals. But 1t was understood that French war; ships would be ordered to convoy freight ships along principal trade lanes, with specific orders to reply to any submarine attacks.
 Threat To Sink Subs
 Diplomatic quarters interpreted this as Q threat to sink the official- ly mysterious submarines operating of the north African coast and the Turkish Dardanells.
 Reports from Lon don that France was threatening to open her from tner to munitions and volunteers for the loyalists were not confirm cd here.
 It was believed rather that any initiative came from Britain and that the reports were in the nature of 0 diplomatic trial bolloon intend- ed to disclose how far the British public would go in support of stern- CT policy toward the Spanish na-