NIGHT OF HORROR FOR BARCELONA

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 7

NIGHT OF HORROR FOR BARCELONA

RAID AFTER RAID \ Franco Hopes to Break Civil Morale. DEAD LITTER STREETS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 17. A message from Barcelona says that almost continuously from 10 p.m. till daybreak wave after wave of General Franco's aeroplanes flew over Barcelona, leaving a trail of death and destruction. It was a night of horror* for the inhabitants, which was not relieved when the sun shone out brightly, as further 'planes appeared at 8 a.m. General Franco's object appears to be to break the morale of the civil population by not allowing them a moment's respite from anxiety. Many took refuge throughout the night in underground shelters. It is estimated that the death roll is 500, with 1000 seriously injured. The entire city is in a state of bewilderment. Bombers are still flying over the crowded area, where the utmost confusion reigns. Buses and trams are overturned, and the streets are littered with dead and dying. Two hundreds people are believed to have been killed instantly when three bombs struck trams, buses and buildings in one of the main streets. A big raid came at lunch time when the cafes and streets were crowded. At least ((0 bodies are in the smouldering ruins of one cafe. Many buildings, including a number of apartment houses, were shattered. Huge columns of smoke rising from them obscured the light of the moon. It is authoritatively denied that disorders are occurring in the city.