GIJON ENTERED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 7

GIJON ENTERED.

INSURGENT CLAIM.

Last Loyalist Stronghold in Northern Spain.

PEOPLE FLEE IN PANIC

United Press Association.—Copyright,

(Received 10 a.m.) LOXDOX, October 21. A Salamanca message says the insurgents claim to have entered Gijon. Asturians blew up houses and bridges.

The Governor of Bilbao broadcast that the insurgents entered an almost deserted city. People of (Jijon fled in panic to the mountains, and militiamen retired and took refuge in mines, where they are preparing further resistance.

An insurgent warship captured a vessel with 200 refugees, including Senor Thomas, head of the Gijon Government.

General Franco expects to mop up the north in a fortnight, releasing 45.000 troops and 120 'planes.

An earlier message from Bayonne stated that the only remaining aeroplanes of the Asturian air force have been flown to Fiance to prevent their capture by the insurgents, who were said to be only seven miles from the last northern stronghold. One machine crashed in the sea. Its passengers were believed to have included leading Gijon politicians.

Gijon, the last port on the north coast held by the Loyalists, was heavily bombarded from the sea and from the air, and a populous quarter was reduced to flaming ruins.

The insurgents allege tliat anarchists are burning and pillaging in the city.

A telegram from St. Jean de Luz says the British steamer Bramden and a British destroyer have left for Gijon.

Franco Master of the North. Pending entry of the main body, insurgent advance guards have taken over control of Gijon. The invaders found houses beflagged with red and gold, the Carlist colours, also many white flags. Politicals, who were hostages, were immediately released.

Hundreds of people, including Asturian leaders, fled by boat as the insurgents encircled the town. Twelve boats were captured by insurgent warships 40 miles from Gijon and the occupants taken prisoner. Insurgents claim to have captured 0000 Government troops.

The Governor of Bilbao broadcast an appeal for motor lorries and other vehicles to carry food to Gijon.

When the news of the fall of Gijon reached Oviedo four battalions of Government troops who had been besieging that city for 1.5 months, surrendered]

Thus General Franco is practically master of all the north of Spain, and as a result he will be able to withdraw large forces from the north and concentrate on the struggle in central Spain.

The Government, however, is also relieved of a harassing moral necessitv of sending valuable materials to the north. Such supplies were a dead loss, as it was recognised that eventually they would fall into the insurgents' hands.

RELEASE DEMANDED. British Steamer Captured by Rebel Vessels. CRUISER INTERVENES. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 21. The Foreign Office has divulged the story of a clash between insurgent and British warships. It is stated that on Wednesday the British steamer Stanprove. carrying (>OO refugees, mostly women and children, was captured off Gijon by an armed rebel trawler.

The cruiser Southampton rushed to the scene and demanded the release of the steamer from the Almirante Cerventes. which was nearby, on the ground that the Stangrove was not in territorial waters. The release was effected under protest. The Southampton escorted the Stangrove to Bordeau.

ITALIAN AIR PILOTS. CONSCRIPTED FOR SPAIN. (Received 10 a.m.) ROME, October 21. The Italian Cabinet has decided to conscript pilots of the air force owing to lack of volunteers through losses in Spain.

The official calendar of the Fascist militia bears a large photograph captioned. "Dead of Guadalajara Vindicated." This is the first time events in Spain have been mentioned in an official document.