THE SIEGE OF MADRID

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21941, 16 November 1936, Page 9

THE SIEGE OF MADRID

SUCCESS OF COUNTERATTACKS

ANOTHER AIR RAID ON CAPITAL

MANY KILLED AND INJURED (united press association—copyright.) (Received November 15, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, November 14. The eighth day of the siege of Madrid began with shells falling in the centre of the city. At least 25 bombs were dropped in the early morning by three rebel aeroplanes which swooped low over the centre of' the capital. No defending aeroplanes appeared, and the raiders escaped unmolested. It is officially stated that 53, mostly women and children, were killed in the air raid, and 150 were dangerously wounded. > A broadcast from Madrid claims that when the insurgents attempted a second raid in the afternoon, two aeroplanes were brought down. The insurgents claim to have set fire to the Madrid gas works. The War Office reports that in the offensive to-day against the insurgents surrounding the capital, the Government forces maintained all their objectives, advancing between two miles and a half and three miles in the Iscra and Villaverde sectors, capturing and consolidating fresh positions. The Government’s success is said to be largely through dashing atlacKs by reinforcements of Asturian miners with dynamite bombs and hand grenades, which they hurled at the tank tractors, bringing to a standstill six rebel tanks, which were preceding two advancing troops of Moors. They thus halted the first rebel attempt at resistance. The militia later repulsed with sustained rifle and machine-gun fire four more tanks, which were screening a second Moorish effort. The loyalists, with foreign supplies of artillery and munitions, dominate the situation along the Estepona and Malaga front, north of GibTclltclt" Allegations that the loyalists arc using poison gas against the besiegers of Madrid are categorically denied. Insurgents Bombed The Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” describes the deadly loyalist bombing from the air of several thousand insurgents, who were assembled in an open field three miles and a half south-west of Madrid. It was also stated that the, insurgents are nowhere Within a mile of the Manzanaras river, and the majority are much farther away. The loyalists advanced three-quar-ters of a mile in the Usera district, south of the Princesa bridge, the city’s southernmost entrance. The launching of the Government counter-attack followed a spectacular air conflict over the capital, in which 16 Government machines engaged 14 rebel aeroplanes. The Government claims that six rebels were shot denvn, and admits .losing two machines. Against this the rebels claim to have brought down eight machines, i but the loyalists undoubtedly drove off the attackers. The Government aeroplanes were sent up immediately the rebel bombers and fighters appeared. The bombers promptly withdrew, leaving the fighters to engage the enemy. One aeroplane was sent down in flames, the two occupants escaping by parachute. However, a pursuing aeroplane . riddled the parachutes with machine-gun bullets, and the airmen hurtled to death. The machine crashed in the courtyard of the military barracks. The War Ministry states that 50.000 loyalist troops inspired by the Government leaders’ appeal to crown the week-end with victory, hurled themselves against the rebels, leaving 50,000 militia to defend Madrid. An aircraft patrol watched the progress of the fighting. Rebel Reinforcements Meanwhile, the rebel cruiser, Almirante Cervera, is feverishly crossing and recrossing the straits from Ceuta to Algeciras, hurrying Moorish reinforcements to General Franco’s line. General Franco, who already has 15.000 Moors in action, requires 20.000 in repelling the loyalist coun-ter-attack, and he is resuming the attempt to enter Madrid, which, the Government says, can hold out for a year. . Already 10,000 fresh Moorish troops have reached Ceuta en route to Madrid. The Gibraltar correspondent of “The Times” says the insurgentcruiser, Almirante Ccrvera stopped a Russian ship laden with ammunition in the straits and ordered tier to Ceuta. If the Spanish Government is victorious, Catalonia will remain faithful to it, but should General Franco win, it will fight for complete independence, according to a high official.