29.4.1937 Mediterranean Sea 38°1’S, 10°46’E 605th. day at sea
After passing SSE of Malta, A lone British freighter was sighted and due to the darkness could not be identified. On the 30th. the Italian freighter “Fontana” was sighted, shortly after the republican freighter “El Castillo” 5.523 grt was shelled and sunk after it failed to stop. this vessel was loaded with 6 Soviet planes destined for the Republican air force. 30 minutes later the tanker “Fernando V” 4.500 grt was also shelled and sunk after it attempted to send radio messages.
The relentless German merchant raider continued to push into the Mediterranean Sea on 1.5. the republican liner “Dominguez de Cadiz” 8.800 grt was stopped and captured. Prize VII was put under the command of Oblt.z.S Berger and the 1048 captured Soviet and Spanish sailors were placed aboard and Prize VII was dismissed to Palam on the Island of Majorca. Before leaving the cargo of rifles, pistols, and ammunition of various calibers were thrown overboard and the Prize Commando was heavily armed in the event of an attempted mutiny.
Several prisoners stated that off the coast of Greece there were several republican vessels anchored their purpose was not known, Hartmann decided to sail into the Ionian Sea and investigate the claim.
