REBELS FLEE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 257, 27 July 1936, Page 9

REBELS FLEE

Government Successes In Spain ADVANCE NORTHWARD Insurgents in Control in Some Parts FIGHT OFF GIBRALTAR By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received July 26, 7.30 p.m.) London, July 25. The Spanish Government, at 0.3(1 p.m., announced that the rebellion >s now dominated, and claimed that rebels were fleeing from Cordova after executing civilian supporters of the Government. The rebels still hold Saragossa, although they sent out an urgent appeal for help. Government reinforcements are marching to Saragossa from Barcelona, which is returning to normality.

Correspondents accompanying Government forces report that the troops driving the rebels northward are now within sight of Aranda with the enemy in full retreat. They also defeated the rebels at Burgos and Logrono, capturing hundreds. A Government column is operating from Avila against Segovia, which is menaced from two directions. Moreover, Government troops are advancing on Vittoria. Aircraft bombed the rebels’ aerodrome at Hubesea. The Government claims numerous desertions from the rebels, while the enemy, in fleeing, abandoned artillery, machineguns, rifles and ammunition. Another battle is progressing at the Endarlaza Pass, on the border of Navarre and Guipuzcoa Provinces in the north, where the rebels have the advantage. In the east the Government’s outflanking movements have already resulted in the fall of Cordoba and Chinchilla, while Albacete is hard pressed. Fight in the North, .The tight continues for control of the northern areas, where the revolutionaries still hold Pamplona, but the Government has secured Gijon and Santander. The Seville radio station is silent. Rebel supporters regard this as a bad sign.

It is officially announced that loyalists stormed San Sebastian and overpowered the last of the rebels after stiff resistance. All is now quiet. British destroyers are standing by. General Mola earlier issued a manifesto declaring that the insurrectionaries held four-fifths of Spain and that they had constituted a provisional Government at Burgos under the presidency of General San Miguel Cabalellas. General Mola declared that he could attack Madrid with 60.000 troops immediately contact was established with the troops advancing from the south.

The former Premier, Senor Quiroga, was wounded in the advance on Madrid.

Journalist Killed,

Manuel Alvarez, Geneva correspondent of the newspaper “El Liberal,” was killed while covering the Guadarrama fighting. A “Daily Mail” correspondent, before the Government successes reported above, allots the rival forces as follows:—The insurgents have troops from Morocco, Seville and Cadiz, the garrisons at Pamplona, Burgos, Lerida, Vittoria and Valladolid, irregulars from Navarre, Spanish basques, and Fascist militia units, while the Government has certain ships, mostly without officers, Red militia, a few regulars, no artillery, and only volunteers for the air force.

The rebels maintain control of Ferrol, where the cruiser Almirante Cervera has surrendered to them, and also at Corunna. ..In the north-east order seems to be struggling from chaos in favour of the Government. Barcelona Death-roll. Barcelona, though violence has ended, is a shambles, 3000 having been killed and 8000 wounded. A British chauffeur and a Spanish clerk at the American Embassy were killed on July 22 while attempting to rescue the manager of the Ford Motor Company. British refugees who have arrived at Marseilles from Barcelona say that the authorities issued 60,000 rifles to the loyal populace, and everyone began firing at everyone else. Government troops pressed rifles and bayonets and 200 rounds of ammunition upon three Britons and forced them to fire on the rebels from barricades, and only the defective tactics of the rebels saved the Britons’ lives.

The “News-Chronicle," in a leader, says it should be clear that in one more country freedom has been monstrously challenged by would-be despots who are prepared to enlist Moors and the riff-raff to enslave their own brothers. The Spanish Government is not a Red rabble but a moderate Government of the Left Centre, pledged to overdue reforms. The west central portion of Spain is still a rebel stronghold. The rebels arrested at Salamanca the Red leader La Passionaria (The Passion Flower), who Is famed throughout Spain for her beauty and eloouence, which largely contributed to the Leftists’ return to power. She was haranguing a mob from a wine barrel. Insurrectionists in the south retain Malaga. The Balearic Islands are still disturbed. Refugees from Palma, capital of Majorca, who are arriving at Southampton, describe bow the rebels took charge on July 19. The military com mander, who is a rebel, achieved a coup d’etat by arresting the second in command, a Government sympathiser, while’ he was in bed, and then expelled Republicans from the town, killing four of them, including a woman who insulted a soldier. Tranquillity prevails in the Canary Islands. Stories of Horror. Refugees at Marseilles are relating terrible stories of carnage and horror. They Included Mrs. Ruby Beach, cousin of the author, Rex Beach, who landed from an American steamer. She said that during the fighting women continually Incited men to exterminate their opponents and not to take prisoners. She added that she saw rebels burn a church, kill the priest, sever his

arms and legs and hang his body from a statue of the Virgin. French newspapers say that guerrilla warfare continues in the San Sebastian region. “L’lntransigeant” says that an English woman refugee who arrived at Saint Jean de Luz from San Sebastian became insane after seeing her 12-year-old son shot because lie refused to say whether Fascists were hiding in the hotel.

In an interview, General Franco, who has been directing the rebellion from Morocco, stated: “I will be in Spain very soon.” Asked whether he was assuming the supreme command, he said, "W e shall see.” > Two contingents of Moors are reported to have crossed the straits in unlighted ships under cover of darkness and landed at Algeciras and La Linea, and to be advancing to Malaga. Planes trying to hamper their movements bombed Algeciras and Ceuta. Battle Seen From Gibraltar. People at Europa Point, Gibraltar, witnessed a spectacular warship versus forts duel, and simultaneously watched planes bomb Algeciras. The warships bombarding Ceuta were troubled by poor visibility. The forts, though similarly affected in replying, damaged the bows of the Jaime I. Crowds watched a Government plane hit by anti-aircraft tire and crash into the sea.

While Spanish warships were shelling shiploads of Moorish troops landing in the neighbourhood of La Linea and Algeciras, three shells fell on the southern end of Gibraltar. The Spanish firing endangered ships using the straits and accordingly the British destroyer Beagle went out to patrol. The British, fearing an epidemic, ordered 7000 Spanish refugees to evacute camps near the frontier. A Spanish Government decree states that Spanish Morocco territorial waters are in the war zone. Flying Officer Domingo Perez, who deserted from the rebels, says he took off from Melilla with Lieutenant Castro, ostensibly to bomb Granada and other Government towns. When over the Mediterranean they fought for a revolver, which be secured. He then threw out Castro. Perez declares that the Moroccan rebels’ situation is desperate. The men obey the officers only because they are terrorised. The Government announces that the rebels have surrendered at Albacete. It claims to have brought down two rebel planes and that another deserted.

AMERICAN ANXIETY

Beleaguered Embassy

(Received July 26, 7.20 p.m.)

Washington, July 25.

The State Department’s principal concern ip the Spanish civil war to-day centred in the safety of the embassy at Madrid, where 161 Americans, including 148 citizens, are seeking refuge, beleaguered and with scanty supplies of food. Evacuation by aeroplane was considered, but it was decided that it was temporarily impractical, as was an attempt to move overland to some port. Food supplies may last a fortnight. but in the meanwhile officials fear that heavy fighting will reach the capital. Evacuation of nationals from coastal points is progressing favourably, the warship Oklahoma removing 16 from Bilbao and proceeding to Santander. The Quincy will probably go to Malaga. The State Department feels that the British can adequately cope with the situation in the vicinity of Gibraltar. All evacuations necessary at Barcelona have apparently been effected. With the aid of British ships a number of Americans have been evacuated from San Sebastian, Barcelona, Malaga and. other Spanish points. Late in the evening Mr. Bowers, Ambassador at Madrid, established direct telephonic communication with the State Department from San Sebastian and reported his personal safety, although he stated he was unable to cross the French border. A file of regular.dispatches said that stray bullets hit the hotel where the American chancellery is quartered, but no casualties resulted. He reported the arrival of the Oklahoma at Bilbao, but most Americans wishing to leave had already been evacuated by a British ship which Mr. Bowers had not identified. The American coastguard cutter Cayuga has also arrived at Bilbao.