 Then, the "Lendakari", Jósé Antonio Aguirre, decided to assume the command of the Basque troops, due the incompetence of Llano de la Encomienda.On 30 April the Italians occupied Bermeo, but the Republican battleship "Jaime I", was damaged by a mine.As the Nationalist troops approached Bilbao, the autonomous Basque government made an international plea to save the children of war flocking to the city.