Evening star., 1938-02-04
Official Observer
and Grew of 25
Are Rescued.
CRAFT RUNNING
REBEL BLOCKADE
Freiglster Was Flying
NOn.InterventiOn
Emblem.
BY the Associated Press.

BARCELONA. Feb. 4.-The British
freighter Alcira, trying to run the
Spanish insurgent blockade, was
bombed by two planes and sunk today
20 miles southeast of Barcelona.
Her crew of Is and an observer for
the non-intervention control, all
British, were rescued by Spanish
government sloop and fishing vessels
and brought to Barcelona.
Barcelona communique said the
planes came from the direction of
Palma, Mallorca, insursent naval and
air base.
Another Spanish government source
said the planes were marked by black
crosses such as the Insurgents use
and were tri-engined Savoia Santa
Marias In the first attack three
bombs were dropped from 100 feet
scoring direct hits.
Like the British freighter Endymion
sunk by an unidentified submarine of
the Spanish east coast Monday, the
Alcira was trying to carry a cargo of
coal to government port.
The Spanish government defense
ministry said:
They the crew and obServer) ar
rived at Barcelona at 9:55 am. (4:55
am, E. S. To, and were welcomed
and given clothing and refreshment.
From lookouts at Montjuich (big
government fortress overlooking the
sea at Barcelona) the attack and sink
Ing of the ship were clearly followed
The ship was flying the British
flag. and also that of the non-inter-
Vention control
The ship Alcira was going to Bar
celona with cargo of COAL Her port
OF registration was birmingham.
The Alcira, 1887 tons, left Gibraltar
for Barcelona January 81, under COM
mand of Capt M. McCracken of Glas-
gov.
Fire Guns as Warning.
Most of the Alciras crew We're
asleep when the attacking planes
roared out of the early morning sky
and fired their machine guns as a
dIIllllS W dUdIlQOu snip.
The airmen also ordered the crew
by radio to quit the ship, but dropped
three bombs while seamen we're swing
ing out the lifeboatS. One bomb set
fire TO fuel tank, another hit the
cabin of the non-intervention OBJ
server and the third fell into funnel
without exploding
The superstructure quickly broke
Into flames.
Capt. McCracken said the vessel
sank within Is minutes after the on
slaught and some of the crew who had
been in their hunks had to flee with
out dressing.
Within Prescribed Route.
"The Alcira was steaming within the
route set by the Nyon (anti-piracy)
agreement the captain said Mate
David Harkness and six of the crew
were on duty. The others were asleep.
We were attacked about $50 am.
I'VE were flying the British flag and
the British colors were painted plainly
on both sides of the ship. The planes
could not have helped knowing our
nationality. The planes dropped five
bombs"
Capt. McCracken told of giving the
alarm to the sleeping seamen and the
frantic lowering of lifeboats.
The non-intervention agent, Peter
Drysdale, confirmed the captains de-
Scription of the attack.
An hour and half later insurgent
planes, which also came from the di-
rectlon Of Palma, dropped 20 bombs on
Tarragona, on the coast about so
miles southwest of Barcelona. One
person was killed.
Details of Sinking Given.
The following communique of the
defense ministry gave details of the
sinking:
AT Gas am. GAS am. E. S. T.),
about 20 miles southwest of Barcelona,
the British ship Alcira was attacked
and sunk by two seaplanes coming
from the direction of Palma, Mallorca
(the insurgent naval and air basel"
The defense ministry communique
added:
They (the planes) twice flew over
the ship, dropping three bombs the
first time and two the second time.
THE ship sank Immediately.
THE crew of Is are all British, as
also is the observer of the non-inter-
vention control
"All the crew and the observer were
rescued by the government sloop "B"
OF the coast guard service and fish
ing boat"