“MADRID NOW SAFE.”

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

“MADRID NOW SAFE.”

CLAIM BY THE GOVERNMENT. SURE OF ULTIMATE VICTORY. LONDON, Augusl 21. A Madrid message says that following a Cabinet meeting Senor Sarabia, Spanish Minister for War, announced that Madrid was now safe. The enemy had been prevented from penetrating the Guadarrama region. Loyalists had dislodged rebels from various positions capturing a considerable amount of war material and food supplies, after which the rebels scattered, pursued by bombing aeroplanes. . Senor Sarabia added: “Everything is going according to plan. Wo expect a complete success.” He accused bishops and priests, armed with rifles, of haranguing tile rebels in the name of Christ to continue:-their fratricide, and added: “The .rebels’ leaders are at liggerlieads, some desiring to restore the monarchy under the Carlist, Don Jaime, others wanting a military dictatorship, to smash the proletariat.”

The Spanish Government’s claims to victories include that of the so-called “phantom column” which after success at Medellin on the march to recapture Badajoz, defeated the insurgents 120 miles from Madrid. Government forces are also reported to have surrounded the insurgents at Huesca, except to the north along the road to Jaca.’Another column defeated insurgents trying to break out of Granada, where a loyalist fighter brought down a rebel bomber in flames, the crew being burnt to death. The Government lias recaptured Antequerra, 20 miles north of Malaga. The insurgents are reported to be closing in on Cordoba and to have captured the heights to the north. RUSSIAN FETED IN MADRID. SOVIET CONTRIBUTES £500,000. LONDON, August 21. The Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” that M. Kolstov, editor of “Pravda,” the Moscow newspaper, was Feted on his arrival. He was received by the Premier, who thanked him on behalf of Spaniards for Russia’s contribution of £500,000 to assist in the civil war. V JAPANESE NEUTRALITY. RIGOROUS STEPS TAKEN. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) TOKIO, August 21. The Government is taking rigorous steps to pre’vent expressions of sympathy oi’ assistance to either side in the Spanish civil war. NOT HELD AS HOSTAGES. BRITONS AT RIO TINTO MINE. LONDON, August 20. The miners from Rio Tinto, who have arrived at Plymouth, deny that they were held as hostages. They declare they were detained for their own safety. "