CHAOTIC MADRID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 230, 28 September 1936, Page 7

CHAOTIC MADRID.

Situation Develops Seriously For Loyalists. BILBAO HEAVILY BOMBARDED. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, September 27. The situation in Madrid is reported to bo chaotic. According to a dispatch to the "New York Times" from Buenos Ayres, the Spanish President, Don Manuel Azana, has taken refuge ill the Argentine Embassy at Madrid. Sources in close touch with the Argentine Government, however, aver that the President is not at the Embassy, but with several other officials, he asked for asylum on board the cruiser Veinticinco de" Mayo. The Government at Buenos Ayres gave no indication if it would grant the request. A Loyalist, Captain Mellado, with a record of having brought down 16 rebel aeroplanes, was killed in an aerial battle with five fighting 'planes. Insurgents dropped hundreds of bombs on Bilbao, about 50 miles west of San Sebastian, setting fire to many buildings, including the administrative headquarters. The British Consulate was damaged. Heavy casualties are reported. The bombardment will be repeated until the city surrenders. In the Toledo-Madrid sector, Government troops, supported by aircraft, made a counter-attack on the rebels and forced them two miles back from Torrijos, after they had approached to within two miles of Toledo, capturing the villages of Villamiel and Vargas. The Loyalists' counter-attack resulted in annihilation of 400 Moors by aerial bombardment, and destruction of two rebel bombing aeroplanes. OCCUPIED BY FRANCE. TINY REPUBLIC OF ANDORRA. (Received 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, September 27. The General Council of the tiny Pyrenean Republic of Andorra, stated to possess a standing army of seven, has reversed its decision of four days ago not to seek French protection in the event of an anarchist invasion. In response to its request a French military detachment has been dispatched to occupy the small agricultural State, in the 191 square miles of which live 5000 inhabitants. The country has been independent since 1278.