LAND, SEA, AND AIR ATTACK

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21992, 16 January 1937, Page 13

LAND, SEA, AND AIR ATTACK

ASSAULT ON ESTEPONA

REBELS CLAIM SUCCESS t (UNITED MESS ASSOCIATION—COI'VEIGUT.) (Received January 15, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. In spite of a message from Valencia declaring that the landing of the rebel forces at Estepona was repulsed, rebel authorities announce the capture of Estepona after allday fighting, which began at 7.30 a.m. The rebel forces were commanded by General de Llano and included 31 aeroplanes, two cruisers, smaller warships, and 20,000 troops, comprising 5000 Italians, 5000 Spaniards, and 10.000 Moors. A combined air, land, and sea offensive was undertaken on Estepona, preparatory to the attack on Malaga, 50 miles distant. Estepona is a strategic point on the La Linea to Malaga road. It had resisted all previous attacks and had been a formidable obstacle to earlier advances to Malaga. The thunder of the guns and of exploding bombs was heard all day in Gibraltar, where 15 bombing aeroplanes, including 10 Junkers machines, could be seen flying eastward, and returning to Los Barrios aerodrome, outside Algeciras, to reload. It is reported that 12 tons of bombs were dropped on Estepona, and that the cruisers at the same time bombarded the town. Malaga was also bombed from the air. It is rumoured that the rebel cavalry is advancing from Estepona and is approaching Marbella.