ROAD TO MADRID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 7

ROAD TO MADRID.

INTENSE FIGHTING.

Important Rebel Capture

Reported.

CHURCH PROPERTY STOLEN

United Tress Association.—Copyright.

(Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 3.

Government forces advancing 011 Saragossa captured the town of La Zaida after a heavy aerial bombardment. Rebels captured Guadar rama, dominating one road to Madrid, after most intense lighting, which ended in a bayonet charge by 2000 men. It is stated that 800 were killed and wounded in one hour.

1 lie rebels are planning an attack 011 Madrid from two sides, but are handicapped by shortage of ammunition. Many rebels surrendered, stating that they had been fighting for many days without supplies. Loyalist leaders arc confident that they can defeat the rebels.

It is reported that the rebels at Toledo are in desperate plight. Food supplies are shortening and an intensive artillery bombardment has cut off water and electricity. The town is completely surrounded and is expected to fall houriv.

The Government battleship Jaime Primero and the cruiser Libertad, from the middle of the Straits of Gibraltar, shelled Tarifa, causing all shipping hurriedly to move from the line of lire, these vessels included the Mooltan, for Australia. Before she entered the danger zone battleships followed her, their officers apparently thinking she was a hostile ship. Church Securities Confiscated. Squads of militia searching churches and convents throughout the country found money and securities worth £030,000, which they handed over to the Government. The Bishop of Gerona's palace yielded £550,000 worth of Government bonds.

Militia arrested the Bishop of Jaen while lie was fleeing from his diocese with his sister and relatives. He had £30,000 in his possession. A search of his sister's clothes revealed £22,000 worth of bonds. The Bishop and his relatives were placed in a cathedral, which was turned into a prison.

The large number of priests killed is explained by the fact that retiring militarists took refuge in churches and convents. The murders ~>f employers were due to the discovery of a list of prominent business men who gave money to the dependants of soldiers killed in suppressing the Barcelona revolution of October G, 1935.

British refugees from Granada describe the massacre in the town of Loja of farmers, traders and others suspected of possessing property, by mobs of armed peasants. Churches, banks s and the principal houses and farms were burned. There were similar scenes of savagery at Marbella and Estepona.