THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21861, 14 August 1936, Page 11

THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

REBEL successes

REPORTED ,’badajos TAKEN AFTER fierce fighting DEFENCES of SAN SEBASTIAN CRUMBLING ttjnlD fUM AISOCUTIOK rOPTAIGHTJ (Received August 13, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 13. The Tolosa correspondent of the| •Daily Mail” says that the insurgent, Wes have almost completely en- j the coastal strip comprising' gan Sebastian and the passages to IcajL Twelve thousand troops,, supported by armoured cars and artillery, are operating against San Sebastian, the defences of which are crumbling. The insurgents, having captured the key town of Tolosa, are now pushing on toward Vilabonia.

The Government reports no marked successes. The commencement of General franco's long-awaited offensive from the south is announced by the correspondent of “The Times” on the Spanish frontier. It was accompanied by the capture of Badajos and the establishment of contact with portion of General Mola s .forces from the north. The capture of Badajos was preceded by the bloodiest engagement of the campaign, and it was attended h r the rebel rout of a Government coilimn from Madrid at Merida, with the loss of 1000 dead. There was much booty and few prisoners. The rebels also claim to have captured Sastago, on the Ebro river, 40 milps south-east of Saragossa. The Siege of Toledo Jose Sanchez Garcia, rged 18, one of seven rebel soldiers who escaped from the Alcazar fortress at Toledo and surrendered to the loyalists, describes the conditions after a three; weeks’ close siege. He says that | the fortress contains 1700 persons, j including 100 soldiers and 700 Civil i Guards, besides cadets, instructors, fascists, women, and children. Their diet is confined to horseflesh and roasted wheat Water is rationed from two wells. A loud-speaker, installed by the loyalist besiegers, daily broadcasts the Government’s warning of the futility of resistance, while the besieged leaders declare they will perish before surrenderin' 1 ' since it is victory or death. The insurgents appear to have abandoned the advance against Madrid for the time being, and the opinion is now growing that the war is in its last month. The chief danger is the economic chaos. The first signs of currency trouble have appeared, silver having gone from circulation. The Government is desperately trying to maintain the peseta at its normal value, but panic prices are being paid for sterling. All rents below £6 a month have faeoi reduced by 50 per cent., and active war workers are exempted from rent altogether. The children and other relatives of several members of the Cabinet arc in the hands of the rebels, who have threatened to shoot the family of General Miaja, the leader of the Government columns in the south, 'hEless he withdraws from the campaign. General Cabanellas is reported to aave been seriously wounded. ?OPE FOR AGREEMENT ON NEUTRALITY OPTIMISTIC VIEW TAKEN

DIFFICULT SITUATION OF

PORTUGAL

LONDON, August 12.

Optimism at the progressoorf r the Beatrality negotiations is displayed the French press.

“I* Journal” considers that the world is so aware of the risks attending intervention that it is not ““dined to defy them.

Diplomatic circles in Paris hope that an agreement will be reached the week-end, as even Rome is EOW more favourable to the neufcality proposal , Ffrom her adjacency to the areas °f the disturbance Portugal takes *?. important place among the which are involved in the on the French initiaof an imderstanding about non®tcrvention in the Spanish conflict. Portuguese Government has algiven its adherence in printo these proposals, but in do■JJ** it has raised one or two t points upon which replies have now lone to Lisbon. fc* Bigland there is a sympathetic Apprehension of the anxieties of “e Portuguese Government in the A® ox. the unpredictable developof the present troubles. Comis made that these aspects of give Portugal a strong ”* res t in an early and successful .°f the French efforts, in *®PPort of which the British Govhas been active for a genrf agreement against intervention, jt is also recalled, that eventually”® involving danger to Portuguese are provided for in the of the League of Nations. i“ot»ritish attitude in such circumalT*® would be defined as well by e Anglo-Portuguese Treaty.