EVACUATION OF BILBAO

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22082, 3 May 1937, Page 9

EVACUATION OF BILBAO

“UNFRIENDLY ACT” TO REBELS BRITISH SHIPS READY EFFORT TO ENSURE SAFETY OP REFUGEES (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received May 2, 55 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. General de Llano, the rebel leader, said in a broadcast from Seville that any foreign Power helping in the evacuation of the civilian population from Bilbao would be considered to be committing an unfriendly act against the nationalists. A Bilbao message states that the captains of nine British vessels have agreed to evacuate as many children as possible from Bilbao, probably 5000. Destroyers will carry others. The French Foreign Office announces that France and Britain have agreed to facilitate the evacuation of several thousand civilians from Bilbao. Britain is making an effort to secure General Franco’s promise that rebel cruisers will not fire on refugee ships. According to a statement by the French Foreign Minister (M. Delbos) in the Senate, Britain and France are making plans for the evacuation of refugees from everywhere *where it is necessary in the Basque territory. British Protection The Home Secretary (Sir John Simon), replying to a proposal made by a humanitarian organisation that a number of Basque children should be brought to Britain, said he would grant the required facilities,, provided the number brought was in accordance with the voluntarily subscribed funds at the disposal of the committee. . The Basque Government having inquired in London whether naval protection would be afforded to the ships by which it hopes to arrange for the evacuation of women, children, and old people from Bilbao, the British Government has ascertained that there would be complete impartiality between the parties and the supporters and opponents of the existing regime, in the choice of refugees for evacuation. In these circumstances, in conformity with the policy hitherto followed of lending all possible assistance to humanitarian work on both sides in the civil war, His Majesty’s Government has instructed British warships to give protection outside territorial waters to any vessels carrying non-combatant refugees from Bilbao. Difficulty Not Expected The British Government confidently assumes that General Franco, for his part, would not wish to impede this humanitarian endeavour, and it anticipates no difficulty in the departure of refugee ships. Actually, so far, there has been no attempt by the insurgent naval forces to interfere with shipping of any kind leaving Bilbao. It is understood that the British Consul in Bilbao will be in a position to satisfy himself of the complete disregard of political considerations in the selection of refugees. A lady organiser left London, py air for St. Jean de Luz yesterday to assist in preparations there for transportation, If children can be brought there. Miss Megan Lloyd George has circularised thousands of women’s Liberal organisations, soliciting aid for the evacuation of refugee children from Bilbao, many of whom are already homeless orphans. GERMANS LANDED AT SAN SEBASTIAN FALSE AIR RAID TO DECEIVE POPULATION LONDON, April 30, The Bilbao correspondent of “The Times” states that 1500 German volunteers were landed at San Sebastian on April 24. A false air raid alarm was sounded to keep the population underground so that the Germans might not be seen as they travelled through the streets. The rebels have made no further advance on the Bilbao front. The defences have been strongly reinforced with both men and material. GERMAN DENIAL OF LANDING LONDON, May 1. A Berlin news agency denies that German troops were landed at San Sebastian. H.M.S. RESOLUTION FOR SPAIN TWO BRITISH BATTLESHIPS NOW IN NORTHERN WATERS RUGBY, April 30. The battleship Resolution is to proceed to northern Spanish waters, where she will relieve the cruiser Shropshire. When the Resolution arrives there will be, for the first time, two’British battiks, the Resolution and the Royal Oak, m northern Spanish waters. # MADRID BOMBARDMENT THREE KILLED AND TWENTYFIVE INJURED MADRID. April 30. The bombardment to-day resulted in /three people being killed and 25 injured , '