ITALIANS ROUTED IN SPAINSH CONFLICT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 68, 22 March 1937, Page 7

ITALIANS ROUTED IN SPAINSH CONFLICT.

LOYALIST CLAIM.

Insurgents Attempting to Reorganise. AIR ACTIVITY AT MATy^rp United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2 p.m.) LOXDOX, March 21. Rebels are attempting to reorganise the Italians at Padilla de Hita and are desperately resisting the Loyalists. "The rout of the Italians was complete in the Guadalajara sector. Many members of the Black Feather Battalion were captured," states a Government communique. "In spite of sleet and the fact that the men in the front lines were knee-deep in mud, the Loyalists pressed on, their bigger tanks defeating the Italian Fiats, and advanced to within six miles of Siguenza. The Italians' flight was disorderly." According to a later message the Government announced that its troops had entered Naval Potro, 15 miles northeast of Brihuega. "We are on the road to triumph/' said General Miaja. "We are not afraid of the tin soldiers sent to Spain by Herr Hitler and Signer Mussolini." On the Madrid front, Government 'planes heavily bombed 15 trains at Siguenza railway station. Government troops are counterattacking after repulsing a rebel artillery and infantry attack on the Sarinena-Aragon front.

The rebel navy captured a Dutch steamer allegedly transporting arms.

. CHILDREN RESCUED.

GRATITUDE TO BRITAIN.

(Received 2.30 p.m.)

LOXDOX, March 21.

A message from St. Jean de Luz, near Bayonne, states that the British destroyers Blanche and Campbell brought 450 children, aged from four to ten, from Bilbao. The Basque Government sent a message of heartfelt gratitude. The children are being taken to Marennes, France.

HINT TO AMBASSADORS.

BRITISH WISHES ON SPAIN. , (Received 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 21. Visits were made to the Foreign Office on Friday evening by the French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian Ambassadors in London. Each was informed that the British Government was anxious about the next step in the non-intervention scheme in Spain. The Government expressed the hope that it would be possible for the full operation of the scheme to come into effect as soon as possible. A full meeting of the international committee for application of the agreement regarding non-intervention in i Spain, has been summoned for to- ■ morrow. It is assumed that this develop- ■ ment indicates that progress has been made towards ending the deadlock which arose in the chairman's sub-committee.

The House of Commons lias passed the committee stage and third reading of the Merchant Shipping (Spanish Frontiers Observation) Bill.

MEXICAN MUNITIONS.

FOB LOYALISTS IN SPAIN. XEW YORK, March 21. A contract for £170,000 worth of munitions for the Spanish Loyalists has been signed by the Mexican Government, rejKirts the Mexico City correspondent of the "Xew York Times." Presumably tie munitions will be shipped in the Loyalists , freighter Motomar, now loading at Vera Cruz.

It is understood that Mexico shortly will place orders for munitions in the United States as a possible test of the neutrality resolution recently adopted by Congress.