VOLUNTEERS IN SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22478, 12 August 1938, Page 11

VOLUNTEERS IN SPAIN

BRITISH PLAN NOT ACCEPTED FRANCO’S DELAY CAUSES CONCERN FRENCH THREAT TO REOPEN FRONTIER {UNITED PRIS3 ASSOCIATIOK —COPYRIGHT.) (Received August 11, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. British and French diplomatic circles continue to be concerned over General Franco’s non-accept-ance of the British plan for the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain.

Sir Noel Charles, British Charge d’Affaires at Rome, in an interview with the Foreign Minister (Count Ciano) drew attention to reports that Italy was still actively helping General Franco with reinforcements and munitions.

Sir Noel Charles expressed no opinion regarding the accuracy of the reports, but said they were bound to create difficulties for the French Prime Minister (M. Daladier), who might feel compelled to reopen the Pyrenean frontier. It is understood that Count Ciano replied that he had not heard of the allegations but would inquire into them. In the meantime, the Spanish Foreign Minister (Senor del Vayo) in an interview with the British and French envoys at Barcelona, emphasised the Spanish Government’s difficulties through its acceptance of the British plan. He said they were still at a disadvantage at sea, while faced with a closed French frontier. General Franco's representatives at Burgos explain that he is exceptionally busy with military operations and many points of the British plan require his personal consideration.

The Bayonne correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says France is understood to have warned General Franco that the frontier may be reopened unless the French ViceConsul at Irun, who has been detained by the Nationalists for months without a charge being laid, is released forthwith.

SURPRISE OFFENSIVE BY LOYALISTS

ADVANCE MADE INTO REBEL TERRITORY LONDON. August 10. A surprise offensive by the Loyalists on the Catalan front across the river Segre successfully cut into rebel territory in the vicinitj' of the Balaguer power stations. Simultaneously the rebels began an offensive on the south-west Estremadura front. A communique issued at Salamanca claims that the insurgents beat back the Republicans for eight miles. Two hundred were killed.

UNION CASTLE LINER STOPPED

INCIDENT DURING VOYAGE TO AFRICA GIBRALTAR, August 10. An insurgent armed trawler fired a blank shot and stopped the Union Castle Line’s Llandaff Castle, of 10,786 tons, .from England, in the Straits of Gibraltar. The Dutch cruiser, Johan Maurits Van Nassau, of the Dutch Gibraltar patrol, intervened, and the trawler cast off and steamed away. The Llandaff Castle continued her voyage to Africa after a delay of 15 minutes.

The hold-up occurred at night time. Two hundred passengers rushed to the rail when the trawler came alongside, but there was no panic.

BRITISH STEAMER ATTACKED

PROTEST TO BE MADE TO BURGOS (sbitish orncut wireless.) RUGBY, August 10. An air attack on the British steamer Lake Lugano, at Palamos, Spain, on August 5, is the subject of a protest which is being handed to the British Agent (Sir Robert Hodgson) to present to Burgos. The circumstances of the attack, including the fact that the ship was the only one in the harbour at the time, point to the conclusion that the attack was a deliberate one. The protest reserves the right of Britain to claim compensation. It states that Britain considers that it should include it on the list of attacks which it proposed a commission of inquiry should investigate.

No confirmation has been received in London of a renewed attack and the sinking of the Lake Lugano which, the newspapers report, occurred yesterday.