REBELS’ ADVANCE ON MADRID

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 9

REBELS’ ADVANCE ON MADRID

Reported Defeat of Loyalists .

MYSTERY CONCERNING GENERAL FRANCO

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received July 25, 12.50 a.m.)

Madrid, July 24,

Though the Government claims to have defeated the rebels outside Madrid, and the capital itself is calm, with none of the aspects of a city threatened with siege, the American Embassy • considers the situation serious. It has received reports that Government forces have been defeated and are retreating on tho capital in disorder. General Mola is 15 miles outside Madrid. Loyalists, however, have adopted the Verdun slogan “They shall not pass," as their battlecry. Reinforcements are rushing up from Valencia, Badajoz and elsewhere.

General Mola claims that time is on his side and adds: "It will be better to reduce Madrid by starvation than by cannon. They will soon be without food, coal and petrol. We also hold the aqueducts and intend stopping the water supply.” It is pointed out, however, that, while the Government controls Eastern ’Spain, there is no likelihood that General Mola will be able to carry out his threats. Moreover, the Government’s claim to have defeated the rebels at Albacete is significant, as it opens.up the road from Madrid to Valencia and the adjacent coast, from which much of Madrid’s food comes. General Mola also claims that he is leaving nothing to chance and not moving his troops until they are protected against surprises, as a few places in the north, especially Iran, San Sebastian, and Bilbao, are still outside his authority. Mvstery surrounds the Intentions and whereabouts of General Franco, who appears to have left the limelight to General de Llano, who is building up the reputation of the strong man of the rebellion. The Government claims to have isolated General de Llano on the outskirts of Saragossa which has been heavily bombarded. The situation iu the south is obscure. The fact that the rebels have made no announcements concerning it indicated that they are meeting strong opposition. The Government claims a number of victories in various parts of Spain, significantly adding that casualties will be found the highest ever known in Spanish civil strife. Reports from Hendaye state that 4000 were killed at San Sebastian alone.

FRANCE REPORTED TO BE SENDING ARMS

Help For Government

(Received July 24, 7.45 p.m.) London, July 23. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent says that surprise was widespread when Senor Juan Francisco de Gardenas, Spanish Ambassador, suddenly handed letters of recall to President Lebrun, apparently owing to France’s refusal of requests from Madrid for armaments to re-equip the Government aviation forces against the rebels.

The "Daily Mail’s” Paris correspondent, on the other hand, says that a sensation was caused in diplomatic and poliWcal circles by the announcement that bombing aeroplanes, ma-chine-guns, bombs and ammunition were being sent to Spain from France immediately. This was followed by Senor Gardenas’s visit to M. Lebrun. A large section of the personnel of the Spanish Embassy also decided to resign and the Spanish Ambassador at The Hague is also reported to have resigned. It is reliably stated that the French Air Ministry has given permission for four large bombers to go to Barcelona from France immediately. A deputy, M. Henri de Kerrllis. said : "I can affirm that the first contingent of the demands of the Spanish Government includes three .75 guns with 200 shells for each gun, 50 machineguns. 12.000,000 cartridges. 25 Potez bombing aeroplanes, and 12,000 aeroplane bombs. It is expected that the artillery will be delivered from Bayonne in nine days.”

According to another source preliminary arrangements are being made with the Civil Air Club, near Paris, to supply 18 airmen to man the first batch of machines to Barcelona. Comment is made that the Popular Front Government at. Paris would naturally give tile closest attention to any call for help from the Popular Front Government at Madrid.

The Chamber of Deputies will meet on Tuesday when the Opposition will voice indignation at the measures taken.