UNEXPECTED GAIN BY REBELS IN NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 7

UNEXPECTED GAIN BY REBELS IN NORTH.

DAWN ATTACK.

Bulwark of San Sebastian Falls to Bayonets.

LEGIONARIES DESERTING. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, August 31. Spanish rebels unexpectedly captured Mount Buruntea, 1500 feet, the last great natural defence before San Sebastian.

Defenders of Mount Buruntea were surprised by a bayonet attack at dawn after a night march and offered little resistance to the insurgents, including the volunteer, Paolinu Uzeudun, exboxer, now a machine-gunner. All prisoners, believed to include a number of Frenchmen, were shot.

Meantime, the reported hostility to insurgents in Morocco is intensifying desertions from the Foreign Legion. Men who have escaped to France say that ten non-commissioned officers were executed 011 General Franco's orders when a detachment objected to going to Spain to figlit their own countrymen.

PEACE PARLEYS.

Loyalist and Rebel Delegates Meet. CLAIMS DISCUSSED. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, August 31. A correspondent of the "News Chronicle," telegraphing from St. Jean-de-Luz, says he considers that negotiations now in progress may lead to the establishment of peace. Four delegates from San Sebastian, representing the Loyalists met four from Pamplona representing the rebels, and discussed a cessation of hostilities and methods of satisfying the claims for independence of the provinces of Guipuzcoa, Navarra and Catalonia within the Federal system.

These ambassadors may enlist the aid of Professor Gilbert Murray, chairman of the League of Nations Union.

A later message stated that Senora Frriburi, known as "La Passionaria" (the passion flower) is among a delegation of four from the Spanish Government, who arrived at Paris to-night. It is expected they will confer with Communist and Trade Union leaders. They drove straight to the Spanish Embassy, declining to make any statement.

ACTION BY POWERS.

ALLEVIATION OF HORRORS. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, August 31. Replies favourable to the proposals, with which Britain and France have already associated themselves, for a committee which might sit in London for the purpose of keeping Governments in contact regarding the execution of the non-intervention agreement, have been received from a number of other Powers, including Italy.

The projected committee would be purely of an advisory character, and would have for its principal function the exchange of information as to the actual measures to be taken to prevent the export of arms, munitions and aircraft to Spain in accord with the programme of essentials submitted by France and accepted by other countries.

The committee would also presumably consider other points arising from the non-intervention agreement, and it might also serve usefully in connection with the contemplated appeal on humanitarian grounds to all parties connected, with the Spanish civil conflict to abate the horrors reported from all over Spain.

. The British representatives to serve on the committee have not, yet been chosen.

SENT TO MADRID

"HUMANISING" PROPOSALS,

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, August 31

The diplomats' plan for "humanising" warfare lias been forwarded to Madrid where the Foreign Minister promised consideration. British and French representatives did not participate in the representations but have been kept informed.