SPEEDY END OF WAR IN SPAIN FORECAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 7

SPEEDY END OF WAR IN SPAIN FORECAST.

FRENCH REPORT.

New Government to Treat

With Franco.

REBELS' GREAT PUSH READY?

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

PARIS, November 24.

The Bayonne correspondent of "Le Jour" predicts the almost immediate resignation of the Spanish Government and the formation of a more moderate Ministry headed by Senor Portela Yalladares, former Prime Minister, who is prepared to negotiate with General Franco.

This decision, it is reported, was reached at a conference at Barcelona with Senor Companys, President of Catalonia, and Senor Negrin, Prime Minister of Spain.

"Le Jour" states that 3000 anarchists were shot at Barcelona recently and 2000 died of starvation.

A Salamanca message says General Franco is hopeful that his new offensive, will crush the Loyalists and speedily end the war. His preparations for a great push have continued throughout November.

It is reported that he has now 300,000 men in one sector alone.

An earlier message from Madrid stated that the Loyalists yesterday launched an attack in the Toledo sector and drove back the rebels, who left munitions and arms. Machine-gun fire dispersed rebel cavalry.

The British Government has raised the rank of Mr. J. H. Leche, Charge d'Affaires at Valencia, to Minister Plenipotentiary. The Australian Associated Press says it understands this action was taken to placate the Spanish Government, which had protested against the appointment of Sir Robert Hodgson as British agent to General Franco. * FIERCE FIGHTING. Asturian Miners Refuse to Submit. MADRID HEAVILY SHELLED. (Refelvpil 2 p.m.) LONDON', Xoveinlier 24. Fierce guerilla warfare is being waged by builds of Asturian miners organised in military formation based in the mountains between Oviedo and Gijon. says a Madrid report. Daily clashes are disorganising rebel movements and inflicting heavy losses.

The Asttirians have sworn not to cease resistance while a single miner is able to hold a rifle.

Loyalist batteries bombarded westward and southward of Madrid, where troops are massing. The insurgents retaliated and shelled populous working suburbs.

A report from Barcelona states that Loyalist squadrons heavily bombed troop concentrations in retaliation for rebel raids on unprotected towns of Bujaraloz, Bonicarlo and Alcaniz.

An insurgent broadcast alleges that 'planes flew over French territory enroute in complicity with the French Popular Front Government.

The Loyalist Cabinet has ordered mobilisation of all unemployed between the ages of 18 and 50.