BIGGEST CRISIS YET

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22050, 25 March 1937, Page 15

BIGGEST CRISIS YET

FACED

SOVIET DELEGATE WARNS

ITALY

MAY IMPERIL WHOLE PEACE

OF EUROPE

(Received March 25, 2 a.m.)

LONDON, March 24. diplomatic correspondent of

r Manchester Guardian" declares Count Grandi's refusal to discuss the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain precipitated what is regarded as the biggest crisis the Nonintervention Committee ■ has . yet faced. . -, / ...

, M. Maisky (Russia) warned Count Grandi that the Italian Government must adopt a different attitude "if it did not wish to imperil 'the -whole peace of Europe." According to "The Times," Count Grahdi's statement was that Italy would not withdraw any of her Volunteers from Spain until the war had been decided by the defeat of the Spanish reds. *

LOYALISTS GAIN

GROUND

ITALIANS? PRECIPITATE

RETREAT

RECRUITING IN MADRID AT

FEVER PITCH

MADRID, March 23

The left wing of the loyalist forces on the Guadalajara front is approaching Jadraque and Almadrones, the points from which the lebel offensive was launched. In'a copyright message to the North American Newspaper Alliance, Mr Ernest Hemingway, defcrjbing the line of the Italian flight from Brihuega, emphasises that there are signs of a precipitate retreat. He estimates that 2000 were killed and 3000 wounded, thus providing a major victory for the Govwnment, after eight months of a fafensive campaign, and uniting the loyalists in their fury against the foreign invasion. Recruiting for the Government forces has reached fever pitch. SupPlies -and gifts are pouring into Madrid from the countryside, greatly raising the morale of the Ighting forces. The encirclement of Madrid is s°w impossible unless General Franco obtains huge reinforcements and a better class of troops than the Defeated Italians.

SPANISH OFFICIAL EXECUTED

LONDON, March 23,

A message from Tangier states Ttffjhe insurgent authorities exetffl&the Spanish High CorpmisJ«t.' (Senor Buyllas), whcf-' was at the beginning of the campaign.