Reports concerning insurgent ports
1937-05-04 023_0018_003 4 May 1937 Reports concerning insurgent ports Some time ago the ship X sailed with 1,500 tons of phosphate (I.G.Farbenindustrie A.G.) from Antwerp to the rebel port Pasajes, where it arrived about 18 April. Several other German ships were lying there, namely the "Ves...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English |
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04 May 1937
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/6E9A99D1-F1C3-4494-99BA-D9A1DF408E86 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/EB4AB01A-4FCF-4013-92B8-85B0AF2CE57D |
| Summary: | 1937-05-04
023_0018_003
4 May 1937 Reports concerning insurgent ports Some time ago the ship X sailed with 1,500 tons of phosphate (I.G.Farbenindustrie A.G.) from Antwerp to the rebel port Pasajes, where it arrived about 18 April. Several other German ships were lying there, namely the "Vesta", "Klio" and "Gaus". All these ships are owned by the Neptun Shipping Company and are regularly engaged in running war material. In addition the German submarine U.27 and the steamer "Wellin" were In the port. The "Wollin" is arsenal, tank and hospital ship for units of the German Navy having their base at Pasajes. At the same time it is used as a temporary mother ship for submarines. It has a tonnage of 2,400 and a civilian crew. This crew has been drawn from the Kiel shipyard, except for two marine radiotelegraphists, who are in constant touch with various naval units. Apart from the submarine crew which resides aboard, the crew of the "Wollin" consists of 33 men. The "Wollin", needless to say, in addition to supplies of fuel and provisions, carries munitions and torpedoes. She has been stationed for three months at Pasajes. The dockers of Pesajes, though constantly matched and urged on, have managed to perform the work so slowly that nearly ten days were needed to discharge our cargo of phosphates. Many German formations are quartered at Pasajes, especially airmen, air defence units and despatch riders. They wear Spanish uniforms, but are recognisably German. Motor drivers and artillerists who came aboard told us that they had not volunteered but had been ordered to Spain. They wanted to buy cigarettes from us, but we informed them that their officers had already been on board and bought up everything, whereupon they began in no uncertain terms to speak their minds about their officers. They were sick and tired of the business. One airman said "We have not come here to help the Spanish generel gain a victory" "Our German staff officers continually emphasise: at home you have been given theoretical instruction and exercise. We have only come here to acquire experience". The despatch riders are equipped with four cylinder B.M.W. machines. The dockers are so revolutionary that they openly showed it. If we had been possessed of leaflets in the Spanish language we could have distributed them. The s.s. "Allegro", under Swedish flag (home port Stockholm) and manned by German crew, on Thursday 29 April sailed from the port (for Spain!) after having loaded munitions and war material until five p.m. in Hamburg-Waltershof. The ship was further to take troops aboard en route, at Brunnsbuttel or Cuxhaven, precise destination unknown. At Hamburg latrines and a kitchen were erected on deck (See note) The s.s. "Colon", under Panama flag (formerly named "Vaccares" and under French flag), after being purchased by the broker Mathias Rhode, on 25 April sailed from Antwerp to Hamburg. Meanwhile it has arrived, and is to be rebuilt in ten days for Spanish transports. Its measurement is 6,500 tons. The broker Mathias Rhode is the man who does all the Spanish business of the German Government. Further particulars of the "Colon" will arrive this evening and will be duly forwarded. The above mentioned "Allegro" and "Colon", as well as the stolen Spanish steamships "Blanca" and "Kontra", are used in the trade on the insurgent ports and are equipped by the Wormann shipping company. Math. Rhode would appear to be the middleman.
292/946/23/20(iii) |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |