REBEL TRAITORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 7

REBEL TRAITORS.

OPENLY MONARCHIST.

Arms to be Given Government

Supporters.

MOROCCAN COUP,

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

LONDON, July 10.

General Sebastiano Pozas, Minister of the Interior in Spain, in a broadcast speech, said tnat arms would be distributed to citizens and villagers desirous of forming combat squads in support of the Government. He added that the insurrectionists in Melilla had been routed, and the rebels in Malaga and Barcelona had surrendered.

Tlio Government has rescinded the state of siege proclaimed by the mutineers. "The Times" Casablanca correspondent estimates the number of mutineers at 18,500, under General Franco. The movement is openly monarchist. The prominent part taken by the 'Foreign Legion, whose suppression of the Asturias revolt of 1934 aroused hatred among the Workers' Legion, was embittered by the recent purge carried out by the Moroccan Commander-in-Chief, General Gomez Morato, under instructions from the Government, which removed many political suspects. The Government ordered General Franco to fly from the Canary Islands to direct operations against the rebels in Morocco, but on reaching' Laraiche (El Arisli) lie assumed their command. ■ His buglers simultaneously sounded the fall in at 2 a.m. on Saturday. Troops in many garrisons stood to arms and were dispatched to occupy strategic points and arrest leading civilians. ' General Franco declared martial law, and seized telephone and telegraph services after a determined light. He organised resistance with antiaircraft lire against Government bombing 'planes dispatched from Madrid. A loyal pilot, Gregorio Garcy, refused to obey and escaped in an aeroplane to Port Lyautey, French Morocco. Crews of three warships sent to overawe the rebels joined their forces. The crew of another is parleying with Laraiche mutineers, the issue being still uncertain. NINETEEN KILLED. Criminal Act of Rebellion In Morocco. TROUBLE IN BARCELONA. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. Earlier messages from Spain stated that a Government communique announced that part of the Army in Spanish Morocco had risen against the Republic, thus perpetrating a criminal act of rebellion against legitimately constituted power. The movement was exclusively limited to certain cities in the protectorate zone. Absolutely nobody in Spain joined in the "absurd scheme." On the contrary Spaniards are unanimously indignant about the shameful act, which was frustrated from the outset. Reports from Tangier state that 19 were killed, including two generals, in Cetuan fighting between rebel troops and supporters of the Popular Front Government. Thirty rebel officers were arrested. Ceuta last night was still in the hands of rebels but Government troops had landed. Senor Lerroux, ex-Prime Minister, and one of the founders or the Spanish Republic, who was responsible for the arrest of President Azana last year, crossed the frontier by motor car escorted by a car containing Portuguese police. From to-day British police at Gibraltar are warning British subjects that it is dangerous to proceed beyond the frontier town of La Linea. A large car conveying Spanish fugitives, was challenged by Spanish guards and the occupants fired, with the result that the guard closed the frontier gates. All cars leaving Spain are now being challenged by rifle fire. A broadcast from Madrid admits a military rising in Barcelona, and says soldiers took possession of the streets after declaring martial law. Storm Guards and Civil Guards met in an attack which at times was "cruel.The Air Force remained loyal and assisted loyal elements against rebels. A Gibraltar message says that after a period of mob law in which Fascists' houses and cars were burnt, two British destroyers are standing "by In tile event of the necessity of evacuating British subjects who have left their summer residences in Spanish territory in order to take refuge at Gibraltar. The Under-Secretary of the Interior announced that the Foreign Legion' at Ceuta, supported by native troops and other units whose identity so far was not known, attacked loyal troops, civilians and aerodromes, but the movement was confined to Ceuta and Melilla. Troops, members of the Air Force and naval units were being mobilised to fight the rebels, who were still in possession of strategical points. It is reported that General San Jurgo., formerly commander of the Civil Guard and leader of the Seville revolt of 1932, heads the rebellion, which was arranged with three generals and other officers of the Civil Guard at the house of Senor Gil Robles. A Paris message states that Senor Gil < Robles had arrived at Biarritz. The aim was simultaneous risings in Morocco and the Canary Islands, from ; which the rebels intended to embark for Spain, where the troops were to join in.