SIEGE OF MADRID

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22003, 29 January 1937, Page 11

SIEGE OF MADRID

FLOODS MAKE OFFENSIVE

IMPOSSIBLE

COMMUNICATIONS OF REBELS

THREATENED

LONDON, January 27

The Toledo correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that all chance of a new offensive against Madrid has gone owing to torrential rains. The rivers are flooded and military operations are rapidly becoming impossible.

General Franco's lines, of communication are also endangered owing to the sweeping away of a vital bridge. It is now impossible to cross the Guadarrama river.

A communique issued by the Madrid Defence Committee reports that there was violent fighting on the Aranjuez front on January 26, when the loyalists counter-attacked and drove back German contingents on the rebel left wing for a mile. They also repulsed rebel attacks at. Elpardo. A message from Santander states that the insurgent cruiser Espana daringly seized a Government coastal vessel at the entrance to Santander harbour, in spite of bombing from a Government aeroplane. Thirty volunteers, including 12 Americans for the Spanish loyalists, have arrived at Cherbourg from the United States. They are en route to Barcelona.

REFUGEES AT MADRID

EMBASSIES

LEAGUE COUNCIL AGREES

GENEVA, January 27

After a private session at which an altercation developed between the Spaniards and Chileans, the league council announced an agree l ment in principle about refugees at the Madrid embassies and legations, covering the private negotiations in London for evacuation with full safeguards. The Valencia Government will decide on the time and circumstances.