REBEL CLAIM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 11

REBEL CLAIM

SPANISH CONFLICT 915 PRISONERS PALOMERA CAMPAIGN ■ A COMMANDER INCLUDED i BRITISH VESSEL SAFE J By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 10, 5.5 p.m.) ' LONDON, Feb. 6 A communique issued by the Spanish rebels at Salamanca claims that their troops carried out several complementary operations in the Palomera sector and captured 915 prisoners, including a commander and nine other officers.

A message from Barcelona announces that the Loyalists have taken up new positions in the Alfambra Valley.

The owners of the British steamer Peekham, which sent out a radio enll for aid yesterday as she was being followed by aeroplanes, have received information from Barcelona that the vessel is safe.

MICROBE POISONING

PLOTTERS IN FRANCE NATIONALISTS' FRIENDS > SUSPECTS UNDER ARREST (Received February 10. 5.5 p.m.) .LONDON, Fob. 9 The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the Sureta National© alleges that the Marquis de Portago, a friend of ex-King Alfonso, who was arrested at St. Jean de Luz, was organising iti France on behalf of the Spanish Nationalists a number of "executions" by means of microbe poisoning. The v Marquis, together with another Spaniard, Jesus Martin, as a preliminary, were charged at Bayonne with forging passports. Martin is described as one of General Franco's most active agents in France.

Two other Spaniards have been arrested and all havo been charged with breaking the French laws dealing with poisons. The Marquis do Portago was well known in London before the civil war. Later, he established in a London hotel a bureau on behalf of the rebels.

BOMBING IN SPAIN STRONG BRITISH APPEAL' (Received February 10, 0.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY. Feb. 9 The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, to-day received a deputation headed by the Bishop of London and Viscount Cecil, which presented an influentially signed petition appealing for representations to both sides in Spain to prevent the bombing of open towns there.