LOYALISTS RENEW OFFENSIVE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 11

LOYALISTS RENEW OFFENSIVE

* Surprise Attack On Gandesa TWO VILLAGES CAPTURED Rebels Rush Troops From Lerida (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT-3 (Received July 27, 10 p.m.) BARCELONA, July 27. The Loyalists, carrying out a surprise attack so as to create a diversion on the Catalonian front, crossed the Ebro river at 11 points on a 90mile front, and approached within one mile of Gandesa, the key town to the Tarragona area. The Loyalists captured 2500 rebels, and took the villages of Corbera and Villalba. The rebels, who minimise the attack, are rushing troops from Lerida and Balaguer. Four Junker aeroplanes bombed Tarragona, killing five and wounding 21. Continuing their offensive the Government forces later claimed to have advanced beyond Gandesa. REBEL TREATMENT OF BASQUES WHOLESALE IMPRISONMENT AND EXECUTION (Received July 27, 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 27.' A carefully checked report received by the Trades Union Council headquarters reveals that since the outbreak of the war in Spain, the rebels have executed nearly 14,000 Basques—lo,ooo without trial—imprisoned 30,000, sent 30,000 to concentration camps, deprived 50,000 of civil rights, and have driven 120,000 from the country, BRITISH STEAMER BOMBED REBEL AIR RAID ON PORT OF GANDIA LONDON, July 26. Four were injured when the British freighter Bellwyn was bombed, machine-gunned, and set on fire at the British-owned port of Gandia, near Valencia. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) announced that General Franco had agreed to an investigation by two naval representatives of the bombing of British ships. He had agreed to pay compensation if the attacks were reported to have been deliberate.