TONS OF BOMBS FALL DAILY ON MADRID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1936, Page 7

TONS OF BOMBS FALL DAILY ON MADRID.

HEAVY FtGHTING.

Rebel Claims Meet Loyalist Denials. \ AIR ARMADAS IN ATTACK. United Press Association.—Copyright. I (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, November 16. Partial confirmation of the claim of the Spanish rebels that they have obtained a foothold in Madrid is provided in the statement of a correspondent with General Varela's troops. He reports that from Sunday afternoon the insurgents' howitzers lifted their fire from the Manzanares valley to University City. There is also an admission that shrapnel has been falling in the centre of the capital. General Dellano to-day broadcast a statement that General Franco had informed him by telephone that his troop 3 were continuing their advance and had begun occupation in several streets. Correspondents state that the rebel attack, although assisted by three lighting 'planes and machine-guns trained on tlieTlefenders, was unsuccessful until eight bombers, escorted by 24 lighters, each dropped a ton of bombs on the main University building. Militia's Vain Resistance. Attackers, under cover of the resultant smoke-cloud, dashed in. The militia resisted desperately but fruitlessly. Insurgents report that over 100 'planes dropped 28 tons of bombs on Governnfent positions in Madrid, which was simultaneously bombarded with 320 guns. The targets included the Ministries of War and Communications, and the northern and southern railway stations which, with neighbouring houses, are a mass of ruins. It is claimed that the rebels readied West Park and the Presidential Palace. Latest news from Madrid, however, still maintains that the Government troops repulsed all attacks. The Council of Defence, in a communique, insists that the Manzanares Rivet has not been crossed at a single point, which is a direct denial of the insurgent claims to successes at University City and elsewhere.^ The Government declares that it has information that Spanish pilots refused to participate in the week-end air massacre, which was carried out by German and Italian pilots.