 The Republican government then ordered a general evacuation.On 17 October the Sovereign Council of Asturias decided to start the evacuation, but the "Legion Condor" sank the Republican destroyer "Ciscar", and the Nationalist fleet blocked the Asturian harbours.Only the senior officers managed to escape on gunboats and fishing vessels (Prada, Galán, Segundo Blanco, Belarmino Tomas).