THE CONTESTANTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 266, 22 August 1936, Page 5

THE CONTESTANTS

LONG STRUGGLE LIKELY.

REBEL MORALE WEAKENING.

LOYALISTS AT CORDOVA. Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, August 21. The special correspondent of “ The “Daily Telegraph” with the Government forces considers that the' civil war may run on indefinitely in the north of Spain, at least until one side or the other is short of ammunition, with which the Government forces are at present well supplied. How long the fervour of the insurgents will last is doubtful, as it appears to he already diminishing, owing to lack of money. Their morale is not near as ,gocd as when they set out from Burgos almost a month ago. The loyalists entered the outskirts of Cordova, where! heavy fighting occurred. The situation is unchanged elsewhere in the south The phantom column, composed of picked Valencia workers, captured Guadaloupe, in the Cacere's Province. The Jaime Primiero, which has been repaired, left Cartagena, jxossibly to support the attack on Majorca. The rebels say that the Almirante’ Cervera is safe off Gifar. At Seville, Senor Dellanos, in his nightly broadcast, which is becoming almost comic in its ferocity of language, threatens to cut their throats like pigs of Se'nor Companys, with all his supporters surrounding him.

OPERATIONS SLOWING DOWN.

VIRTUAL ARMISTICE AT IRUN. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, August 21. A virtual armistice is reported at Irun and San Sebastian, though the Government batteries at San Marcial and Guadaloupte, supported by .a torpedo boat, shelled the woods at the back of Irun, which are occupied by rebels.

HONORARY CONSUL SHOT.

POLAND’S VIGOROUS PROTEST. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) WARSAW, August 21. The Governme’nt is strongly protesting to Madrid regarding the fatal shooting of Vincente Noguera, Polish honorary consul at Valencia, by the workers’ militia.

BOXER EXECUTED BY GOVERNMENT.

LONDON, August 20. A wireless messoge from Madrid announced that Paolini Uzcudun, the boxer, was executed by a Government firing squad. “PEACE HANGS ON A HAIR.” (Received Tips Day, 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, August 21. “Peace hangs by a hair,” declared “Le Journal,” commenting on Germany’s threats to Spain. The entire French press takes the gravest view of the situation. "While hoping that Spain will do her utmost to conciliate Germany, the press emphasises that the Nazis are - dopting their usual bullying tactics, magnifying the incidents from their true proportion. “Le Populaire” points out that incidents must be expected in a time of trouble. They can be settled simply by the recognised international rules.

BRITAIN FIRST TO ACT.

LESS PROMISE OF ITALIAN SUPPORT. LONDON, August 20. Although 15 Governments, including all the powers most immediately concerned, have now approved of the French proposals for non-intervention in the Spanish civil war, the application of the general prohibition of war materials and: munitions is held up pending the Italian reply to the French formula.

A report states that among authoritative French observers in Rome the prospects of an early settlement of the outstanding Italian reservations which, it is understood, were discussed last night during the visit of the French Ambassador to Count Ciano, are less promising. The general application of the embargo is dependent, in accordance with the terms of the French formula, on acceptance by Italy, in addition to certain powers which with reservations, in some cases have already adhered to the agreement, namely, Russia, Portugal, Germany, and Britain. The British Government has acted without waiting for a general agreement, The prohibition of the export or arms and munitions of war of all kinds to Spain from Britain became effective to-day. It applies to civil as well as to military aeroplanes, whether exported by ship or flown under their own power. “The Times” says that an agreement among the powers that would eliminate the danger of Spain being made a battleground for rival political theories in Europe would be valuable in itself, and it would, make sure the preliminary negotiations for a Five-Power Conference.—British. Official Wireless.