REBEL ATTEMPT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 7

REBEL ATTEMPT.

DRIVE ON MADRID. First Phase of Decisive Battle Sees Fiercest Fighting. TANKS, 'PLANES AND CAVALRY United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, February 14. The desperate nature of an attempt by the rebels to advance on Madrid from the Jarama River, states a dispatch from Spain, can be gauged from the fact that they hurled 1500 cavalry across a wrecked bridge in a halfmile charge across a plain against hills defended by machine-guns.

The rebels set up an intensive bombardment, under cover of which the horsemen advanced. Their horses stumbled on the bridge but the majority stru across. The cavalry then surged forward in a solid mass while the machine-guns on the hills emptied saddle after saddle. Nevertheless, the cavalry reached the foothills. There the riders flung themselves off, left their horses with horseholders and advanced on foot with hand grenades. The attackers won the crest of the hills. Suddenly five Russian tanks roared into action from the Loyalists' positions and shelled the cavalrv, the survivors of which galloped to shelter behind a bluff. The tank crews then directed their attention to the rebel artillery, compelling its partial withdrawal. Loyalist infantry promptly left Madrid and traversed the plain under fire until they were able to occupy trenches previously prepared. This they did, but only to be attacked by two rebel regiments numbering 5000 men who, crowded into groups between rushes, were subjected to galling machine-gun fire from ltf Government aeroplanes, which suddenly swooped down from Madrid. The aeroplanes wheeled and returned to the attack, to, be met by the fire of the rebels, who earlier had been taken by surprise. One machine was blown to bits in mid-air by a direct hit. The remainder of the rebel artillery and tanks attempted to cross the river but were cheeked by the Loyalists. This ended the first phase of what General Franco hopes will be the decisive battle in the onslaught on Madrid. TOLL OF AIR RAIDS. Government Claims to Have Repulsed Attacks. CIVIL EVACUATION URGED. MADRID, February 14. The battle for the mastery of the Valencia highway, on which "the food supplies of Madrid depend, continue?. The Government claims to have counterattacked for 24 hours and to have captured important positions near VaciaMadrid and Mount Pajares, the booty including two tanks. The insurgents declare that they repulsed other counter-attacks and captured five tanks and three guns. Reports telephoned last night state that the insurgents' forces with motor equipment again attempted to force the Jarama River yesterday afternoon but were met by withering fire from machine-guns, mortars and rifles. Scores of aeroplanes bombed tanks which were attempting to force a passage across the river. Insurgent aircraft arrived, but the Government claims to have crashed three of them. One, according to the papers, was piloted by an Italian, who was killed. The Government asserts that all attacks were defeated after six hours of terrific fighting entailing heavy losses. The authorities are again urging the voluntary evacuation of non-combatants in order to ease the food problem and avoid the dangers of bombardments and air raids, which to-day, it is officially announced, killed 574 civilians, including 161 women and 218 children, and injured 1884, of whom 900 were women.