THE REVOLT IN MADRID

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 11

THE REVOLT IN MADRID

MEASURES AGAINST COMMUNISTS DISORDERS REPORTED IN PROVINCES MILITARY AND CIVIL CHIEFS IMPLICATED {united him association—contsi«wt;.} (Received March 9, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The Hendaye correspondent of “The Times” says Republican military and civil leaders are implicated in the revolt in Madrid against the Defence Council. All who are caught are being summarily executed. Communist centres and newspapers throughout the Republican area are being closed down and many arrests have been made. Reports of disorders in the provinces persist in spite of reassuring messages sent to the Prime Minister (General Miaja) from the provincial capitals! - A broadcast from Madrid this morning stated that the Communists, who had risen against the Defence Council, had hoisted the white flag. The revolt is over with the exception of trouble at Ciudad Real. The revolting battalion was forced to surrender after a tank attack on the .Madrid racecourse. Aeroplanes machine-gunned and bombed the Communists, who were behind street barricades, while field guns shelled the buildings where other, groups were sheltering. At the height of, the revolt, a pitched battle occurred at Calle de Alcala. Three divisions from Guadalajara rushed up in lorries at dawn and pierced the Communist barricades, forcing them to surrender. These Communists included companies from the Jarama front who left the lines to come to Madrid to help their comrades. The Communists were reported to have erected barriers on the main road to Cuenca, held up munition lorries going to Madrid, and seized the artillery from a vital defence position. . General Franco’s spies hourly advised him of the position in Madrid, and he was ready for a tank and artillery attack if the Communists overcame the Republican authorities. The Republican Defence Minister (General Casado) has prepared a list of 60 Communist leaders, who have been sentenced to be shot. Reinforcements of troops from the front have been distributed throughout the city. A‘spokesman for the Defence Council reports that' the city is calm as. troops continue to occupy the Communist positions, Supporters of Senor Negrin state that the Cabinet fled when it learned that General . Casado planned; a court-martial to execute Senor Negrin, Senor Del Vayo, and others on a charge of, betraying Spain to the Communists.

The Madrid wireless station this morning also announced the suppression of the Cartagena revolt, including an attempt by supporters of Senor Negrin to seize the arsenal.

BAN PLACED ON SHIPS

VSE OF REPUBLICAN COAST (Received March. 9, 7 p.m.) BURGOS, March 8. . The Admiralty forbids ships of any nationality to enter harbours between Adra and Sagunto, comprising the' whole Republican coast. Submarines have been ordered to sink any attempting to enter ports.

PROTEST BY “LA

PASIONARIA”

ALLEGED ’TREATMENT ON FRENCH SOIL .

(Received March 9, 7 p.m.)

MARSEILLES, March 8.

The Republican leader, Dolores Jbarruri, “la Pasionaria,” has arrived at Marseilles en route to Paris. She protested against the French authorities at Gran treating her as a prisoner.

The French Communist Deputy, M. Catala, told journalists: “I saved her from Spain at peril of my life. I will not allow anyone to bother her.”

A message two days ago reported that 12 Republicans, including “la Pasionaria,” arrived by aeroplane at Oran -

REFUGEES IN THE PYRENEES )

REPORT BY RED CROSS SOCIETY (BRITISH 01’FICUI. WIRY LESS.) RUGBY, March 8. A report by Major-General Sir John Kennedy, who is visiting refugee camps and hospitals in the Pyrenees as a personal representative of Sir Arthur Stanley, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Red Cross Society, has been brought to the notice of the British Government;' In a tribute paid to the work done by France and the Red Cross Society, Sir John Kennedy emphasises the need for beds, blankets and linen, as well as for more hospital accommodation, in view of the increasing number of refugees and the serious congestion. He is of the opinion that the best’ immediate help would be to dispatch a fully-equipped British hospital ship.

FRENCH CREDIT FOR REFUGEES

£900,000 TO BE AVAILABLE FOR RELIEF PARIS, March 8. ;The Finance Committee of the Chamber of Deputies agreed to opefi a:credit of £900,0.00 for the relief of Spanish refugees, of whom there are 441,000 in France, comprising 220,000 soldiers, 10,000 wounded, 40,000 male civilians, and 171,000 women, chil-, dron and aged. The Foreign Minister (M. Bonnet) stated that the United States had agreed to admit only 252 refugees a year. The Smith American countries would admit only Roman Catholics and. Basques as farmers, and Britain would take some when private organisations were ready. Mexico was raising difficulties and the Soviet was unwilling to receive any refugees, but was helping financially. .

NEW AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN

LONDON, March 8. Britain has agreed to the Duke; of Berwick and Alba being the Spanish ationalist Ambassador to London.