FIGHT FOR LIFE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 9

FIGHT FOR LIFE

Spanish Government’s Struggle COUNTRY IN TURMOIL Rebel Force Advancing On Madrid VITAL BATTLE AWAITED Insurgents in Control in Morocco By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received July 21. 5.5. p.m.) London, July 20. That the Spanish Government is fighting for life is indicated by its ordering mobilisation of all loyalists under 30. It gained control ol Madrid as the result of three hours’ . desperate fighting, in which the rebels, who were in possession of the Marla Cristina and Montana barracks under General Fanjul, were defeated after the officers had been deserted by many of their soldiers who joined the Republican ranks. One thousand officers and men were arrested.

After the insurgents issued a manifesto from the adjacent aerodrome of the Four Winds demanding the resignation of Cabin’et and the arrest of Communist chiefs under pain of aerial bombardment of the capital, Loyalists occupied the aerodrome. The Ministry of the Interior announces the death of the Monarchist leader, General Sanjurgo, in an air crash while he was flying to Spain from Portugal in order to participate in the revolution.

The correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Mail” at Tolosa says that a formidable force of rebel infantry is reported to be encircling Madrid, where the greatest alarm prevails. A battle which may decide the destiny of Spain is expected hourly. The parade grounds at ’the principal barracks are littered with dead and dying as the result of to-day’s fighting, which established the temporary supremacy of the Government.

Cities still in the hands of insurgents are Malaga, which is partly aflame, Salamanca, Santander, Seville, Cordoba, Saragossa and Valladolid The issue hangs in the balance at Valencia and Bilbao. Both sides are savagely contending for Barcelona, the Manchester of Spain. Government aeroplanes, bombing the city, set Are to a church and barracks. The Governor of Cadiz, aided by Civil Guards, maintains resistance against the rebels. The ‘‘Daily Telegraph’s” Mendaye correspondent says that the garrison from Pamplona is marching to Madrid with heavy artillery. The Government has taken over the offices of the four principal Conservative newspapers at Madrid and has placed them in the hands of staunch Republicans. Latest reports state that Government forces have retaken Seville and Malaga. Fighting is still proceeding at Cadiz, La Linea and the Canaries. The bodies of two colonels and 16 other officers were found after the fall of the Montana barracks at Madrid. It is believed that they committed suicide. Madrid Revolt Suppressed. The Spanish Embassy has been officially informed that the revolt at Madrid has been suppressed, that the position of the Government is stronger, and that it is hopeful that it will soon crush the revolt.

The British United Press agency at Madrid states that the Government announces that the military revolt in the capital has been crushed. The Government has suspended all banking transactions throughout Spain for 48 hours and placed a moratorium on all debts for the same period. No amount exceeding £55 can be withdrawn from the banks. In a wireless broadcast from Ceuta it was stated that General Mola, at the head of 15,000 rebels, entered Madrid, but Madrid broadcast an official announcement that all the barracks have surrendered to the Government, including the chief rebel stronghold, the Montana barracks, which Government aeroplanes previously bombed. Many Areas Affected. Behind the obscurity induced by the censorship and contradictory reports, the fact emerges that Spain is by no means free of the grip of civil war, despite the activities of the civil population, which is now fully armed in support of the Government. Government admissions show’ that provinces hitherto deemed immune from invasion or insurrection have been plunged into the general whirlpool. The civil Government of Asturias, in the north, has yielded to the rebels, who are also fiercely resisting attacks by Government aircraft at Segovia, in north-central Spain. Jaca, regarded as being the cradle of the republic, where an abortive revolt of Leftists began in 1932. is in tbe bands of the mutineers. Tbe Government assertion that the navy is entirely loyal is discounted by the rebels baring crossed to Spain from Morocco aboard a destroyer given them by naval officers. Fierce Barcelona Conflict. Spanish refugees affirm that between 2000 and 3000 were killed and wounded in the Barcelona fighting. Many churches are ablaze. The 'fiercest fighting occurred in the Place de Cataluna, where the carcases of a dozen mules used to haul machine-guns remained yesterday morning. Government buildings were bombed by the rebels. Refugees state that the streets were spattered with blood. There is a huge shell-hole in front of the Hotel Colon, tramway wires are hanging down, newspaper stands wrecked and churches and buildings destroyed or damaged. Many British tourist agencies, on the advice of the Foreign Office, have cancelled projected Spanish tours until the position has cleared up, but some intending travellers are going to Spain undaunted by the situation. Authorities in Spain refuse to allow Spanish refugees to leave the country unless holding foreign passports. French tourists crossing the frontier, and travellers reaching Hendaye, say that many French and English tourists are stranded in Spain owing to the stoppage of communications to the French frontier. Some who crossed by rar arrived in ears showing biil.lct-

holes, after running the gauntlet of the rival factions.

The Spanish Embassy in London knows nothing of the experiences of a party of 05 Britishers who went to Barcelona for the People’s Games. The British destroyer Shamrock is speeding from Gibraltar to Malaga to rescue 200 British subjects. The cruisers Cairo and Orion are ready to sail from Plymouth. An augmented force of British troops with fixed bayonets guards the gates on the Gib-raltar-Spanish frontier. The British Embassy at Madrid has been notified to open a shelter in the British colony.

Rebels in Control of Morocco.

The military rebels fully control the Spanish Zone of Morocco, a Tangier message states, though four Government warships and a destroyer whose crews placed their officers under arrest bombarded Ceuta throughout the day. The aeroplane which bombed Mosque, arousing the Sultan’s protest, was brought down by machine-gun .fire at El Kasr.

Spanish Morocco is now quiet owing to the intervention of the Sultan, who expressed disapproval of the bombardment of Ceuta, Melilla and Larache, in which Moorish lives are endangered. The British United Press agency at Tangier states that a leading resident of Tetnau says that he witnessed mass executions of loyalists and high officers who refused to join the revolt. A message from Oran states that General Franco, leader of the rebels, telegraphed to the Prime Minister protesting against the unprecedented conduct of the Government in ordering airmen to drop bombs, which injured innocent women and children. “The Spanish restoration movement will soon triumph and we shall demand an explanation of your conduct,” he declares. “The measures we will take will be proportionate to your resistance. We invite you to cease and not to cause useless bloodshed.” General Franco signs himself “Chief of the Military Forces in Africa.” Rebel Gains.

It is reported from Gibraltar that the rebels made great - progress during the night and secured possession of many more towns, particularly in the southern peninsula. It is significant that they captured many aerodromes and now threaten to bomb Madrid from the air if the Government does not surrender unconditionally within two hours. The Government at Gibraltar has placed the old baracks at the disposal of refugees and firms are offering the use of warehouses, but nevertheless hundreds were compelled to sleep out Air Force machines may be employed to rescue British subjects stranded in Spain. They include from 600 to 700 motorists. Gibraltar also reports great excitement at the frontier town of La Linea, where 5000 British subjects work. Bodies are still lying in the streets after last night’s engagement between Moorish rebels and Left Wing loyalists. Fifty persons are reported to have been killed and 100 wounded. Listeners last night heard Senor Goded broadcast advice to the Barcelona rebels to follow his example and surrender.

A DECISIVE BLOW Government Prepares To Strike (Received July 22, 12.55 a.m.) Madrid, July 21. The Government, after its victory here, is preparing a last and decisive blow against the rebels. Strong loyal forces, including the air force, arc ready to march north to meet General Mola’s rebel force now en route from Burgos. The clash may occur in the Sierra Guadarrama Mountains, 40 miles from the capital. The Government broadcast an appeal to the people to resume work with a view to restoring normality as soon as possible. Newspapers were sold in the capital for the first time since the revolt. Shops are reopening and it is claimed that ali has been quiet at Madrid since noon yesterday. Sixty are believed to be dead after a street battle at San Sebastian. It appears that the Government controls the principal towns in Spain and is gradually dislodging the rebels who, however, are still strongly established In Spanish Morocco. Valladolid, Saragossa and Seville are now in Government hands. Loyal troops, assisted by civilians, are reported to have crushed the rebellion at the Balearic Islands. Rebels claim lhat a force is marching on Madrid from the south, while General Mola, with troops from Burgos (Navarra) is proceeding to the capital from the north. The rebels also assert that they have control of the provinces of Granada and Cordoba. General Franco, Interviewed at Ceuta, stated: “Our plan is proceeding with mathematical accuracy. We are now preparing operations to wipe out lesser centres of Communist machinations. Our movement has come at the right time, because the conditions incertain warships have shown how intense is Communist propaganda in the naval forces and how necessary was our swift and energetic action, otherwise civilisation would have suffered a serious setback.”