852.00/2921: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin)7
The unsuccessful attempt of an unidentified plane to bomb the United States destroyer Kane yesterday afternoon approximately 38 miles off the extreme southwest coast of Spain suggests that perhaps the armed forces of the two factions in Spain are not familiar with the fact that there are two United States destroyers now operating in waters in the vicinity of Spain for the purpose of evacuating American nationals. These vessels, the U. S. S. Hatfield and the U. S. S. Kane, are relieving the battleship Oklahoma which sailed from Gibraltar this afternoon for the United States. They have four stacks and on the bow of each destroyer is painted in large white numerals the number of the ship. The Hatfield is No. 231 and the Kane No. 235.
[Page 689]You are instructed immediately to bring the foregoing information orally and informally to the attention of the military authorities in command in your district, Government or insurgent as the case may be. In so doing you will add that the United States heavy cruiser Quincy and the United States Coast Guard cutter Cayuga have for some weeks been operating in and out of Spanish waters for the purpose of evacuating American nationals. It is assumed that all of the military authorities are familiar with the characteristics of the latter two vessels, but they should be reminded of the continued presence of the Quincy and the Cayuga in the vicinity of Spain.
- Sent also to the Consuls at Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga, Seville, Valencia, and Vigo.↩