REBEL OPERATIONS CLOSE IN ON MADRID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 7

REBEL OPERATIONS CLOSE IN ON MADRID.

CAPITAL BOMBED. Beginning of Large-Scale Offensive. EBB AND PLOW OF BATTLE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LOXDOX, August 30. The insurgents are still unable to advance towards Madrid from Guadarrama, where 30 rebels were killed and 60 wounded in an engagement at Barbatona. The bombing of Madrid is apparently the beginning of a large-scale rebel offensive from the south and from the west, the earlier objective being to relieve the besieged city of Toledo. The British L'nited Press Madrid correspondent says the fate of the capital will be settled on the Estramadura front, where a real rebel push will be made as the threat from Guadarrama is practically ended.

General Franco's drive on Madrid from the Estremadura region was attended by minor successes, including the capture of villages along the Tagus. His regular troops and Moors are supported by armoured cars, tanks and aeroplanes, also by columns, which left Seville and Cordoba for the north before Cordoba was completely surrounded by Government forces, who have already assaulted it 11 times unsuccessfully. A Loyalist battalion is leaving Madrid to oppose General Franco before he raises the siege at Toledo. Four Rebi;l "Planes Over Capital. Rebel aircraft bombed Madrid shortly before midnight. Four machines flew over the city and four bombs were dropped, also flares. Two of the bombs fell near the "War Ministry and foirr militiamen were injured. The other two fell near the north station. The Government immediately issued a communique urging the populace to remain calm and stating that it knew how to foil the rebel raiders. Nevertheless, the raid caused the greatest alarm and confusion. The rebels carried out a second air raid on the capital at 5 a.m. on Saturday, but so far as can be ascertained there were no casualties. The first raid came without warning but directly the noise of the engines of the aeroplanes was heard all lights were extinguished and those people who were about took refuge in ' underground stations where the scenes recalled London at the time of the Great War. In neither of the raids was much damage done. Bombs fell in gardens and squares. The windows of adjacent buildings, including those of the War Ministry and the Post Office, were broken. The insurgent junta at Burgos has requisitioned all products of the Rio Tinto mines for the needs of troops and says it will pay average market prices. Rebels claim to have captured the small village of Castellar, 13 miles from Gibraltar. Three aeroplanes bombed the cruiser Cervantes near Huelva, causing a severe list.

ON NORTHERN FRONT. Grim and Costly Struggle For Irun. FIGHTING IN MOONLIGHT. HENDAYE, August 30. Hand-to-hand fighting with knives and bayonets, while artillery maintained a constant barrage, characterised the battle in brilliant moonlight on the Trim front, which ceased at. about 1 a.m., the rebels having entrenched themselves in new positions. The Government forces in San Marcial fort are reported to be running short of ammunition. Three rebel aeroplanes which took part in the bombing of San Marcial beat a retreat when Government fighters appeared. The rebels have lost so many men that they are awaiting artillery reinforcements. They intend to bombard Irun untjj it surrenders. Intense heat stopped another attack on Irun,'which the rebels launched at 7 p.m. While awaiting reinforcements, the insurgents are keeping up desultory shelling of the Loyalist lines. REBELS ROUTED. KEY CITY UNDER SIEGE. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 30. Loyalists, with aeroplanes and militia, routed a rebel column endeavouring to raise the siege of Huesca, one of the key cities in the north-east, which Loyalists have been attacking since August 11. Rebels left guns, ammunition and prisoners in the hands of the victors, who are now at the gates of the city. A lull continues on the Irun front, where German anti-Nazi emigres formed a Loyalist volunteer detachment named the Thaelmann Column, after the imprisoned Communist leader. At Majorca rebels are reported to have captured and shot Guy de Traverse, of the Paris newspaper "L'lntransigeant," who'landed with the Loyalists. SOVIET AMBASSADOR. WARM WELCOME IN MADRID. MADRID, August 30. The new Russian Ambassador to Spain, M. Rosenberg, fcas presented his credentials to the Government. T e ceremonv in the palace was simple, but the drive there was accompanied by a procession of cars and the President s resplendent cavalry escort. Bands played the National Anthem. The Press expresses delight at the appointment of "so zealous a revolutionary'' as M. Rosenberg as Ambassador.