CASUALTIES PLACED AT 20,000

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 11

CASUALTIES PLACED AT 20,000

Spanish War Nears Climax BRITISH DESTROYER FIRES AT PLANE (Received July 24, 1.10 a.m.) Madrid, July 23. The civil war appears to be approaching a climax. The Government lias issued what is becoming a stereotyped daily claim to complete victory, but independent observers feel that the issue is still doubtful. General Franco, the rebel leader, inspires unbounded confidence and his supporters of the Right emphasise that he would never liave let himself bo implicated in the revolt if he was not certain of success.

The Government’s position is stronger in southern Spain, where the antiCatholic and anti-capitalist feeling has long been bitter. The rebel generals appear to have rather more than half the regular army behind them, but the Government, with a majority of the air force and navy, has also the advantage of the artillery, which has remained faithful, even in the north, bombarding rebels at various points along the coast, especially the key points of Sah Sebastian and Irun, where the rebels appear to be conducting a hopeless resistance.

A Paris message states that it is estimated that the total killed since the revolt is over 20,000.

A Government summary of the situation claims that Seville is the only stronghold remaining in the hands of the rebels in the south. General de Lando has fled by air to Cadiz. The Prime Minister declares that the situation is improving hourly and that the rebel forces in the north will be overcome to-day.

Everything is normal at Madrid, though the atmosphere is very tense. Husca was surrounded following a heavy bombardment, and the rebels at Saragossa received an ultimatum to surrender or be bombed. Barcelona itself is quiet after appalling scenes of violence, the famous cathedral being almost the only one spared. The streets of the Espana district are littered with the bodies of men and horses. The Catalonian Government claims to control the whole province. The rebels claim still to hold the provinces of Navarre, Seville, Leon, Saragossa and Valladolid. From Gibraltar the acting-Governor has protested to General Franco at his permitting rebel planes to fly over Gibraltar contrary to the international convention. A number of bombs dropped from Spanish aeroplanes when flying oil’ Tarifa exploded near the British destroyer Wild Swan, which returned the fire and returned to Gibraltar.

A wreath from ex-King Alfonso and the Spanish Monarchist flag lay on the coffin of General Sanjurjo, a Monarchist leader who was killed in an air crash while flying from Portugal to Spain. His funeral at Lisbon was attended by thousands of refugees who shouted “Viva Franco.”