7.1.1937 Indian Ocean 2°14’S 82°24’E 494th. day at sea
After a calm Christmas and New Years Schiff 30 continues the hunt for merchant shipping bound for the Spanish Republicans.
On 5.1. a large French liner was sighted coming out of a rain squall and was stopped and boarded. The S.S. “Bordeaux” 34.225 grt from Saigon to Marseille loaded with tin, rubber, and refrigerated cargo along with 120 naval and army officers bound for Spain, the ship was to stop in Valencia and Barcelona. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the vessel taken prize, it was placed under the command of Oblt.z.S Krammer with a large prize crew, the liner will be used as a prison and supply ship. With 6 weeks’ worth of provisions the liner was ordered to 13°48’S, 77°32’E and await the return of the Hilfskreuzer.
The master of the “Bordeaux” stated that there were several French vessels sailing for Spanish Republican ports via the Indian Ocean and entering the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Hartmann plans to search for these vessels. Hartmann intends to meet the “Bordeaux” and the “Ehrenfels” no later than 20.2.
Schiff 30 has sunk or captured 124.566 grt. The Skl. has instructed that the Hilfskreuzer remain active in the Indian Ocean. No information has been given by the Skl. in regards to potential shipping sailing for Spanish Republican ports.
The situation in Spain continues to deteriorate.
