HEAVY CASUALTIES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 147, 18 March 1937, Page 11

HEAVY CASUALTIES

Italian Forces in Battle Near Madrid LOYALIST SUCCESSES By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 17, 7.10 p.m.) London, March 16. A message from Madrid reports that Italian prisoners state that the Italians lost 1500 killed and wounded on the Guadalajara front. Pressing home advantages gained by the international column, 55 loyalist aeroplanes, states a Valencia message, raided rebel concentrations round Brihuega. They dropped 820 bombs and machine-gunned the rebel trenches, creating havoc and slaughter for five hours. The Italian prisoners will be spared and will be released at the end of the war and allowed to go home. The Madrid 'newspaper the “Voz” states that rebel air raids on the capital killed 1407 persons and wounded 3458 from October 23 to February 28. A Barcelona report states that five insurgent aeroplanes bombed the harbour and city. Four people were killed and. 13 injured, and a sailing ship was sunk. SUPERVISION SCHEME Deadlock on Question of Financial Aid (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, March 16. A communique states that a subcommittee of the International Committee for Application of the Agreement ou Non-intervention in Spain today agreed that at present the most important task was to secure the effective establishment of the International Board with a view to the scheme of observation of the Spanish frontiers being brought into full operation at the earliest possible moment. Immediate arrangements are, therefore, being made for meetings of the board to be held to settle with the utmost dispatch all outstanding details in the working of the observation scheme. The first full meeting of the board will be held to-morrow. It is understood that the question of financial aid to either of the parties to the Spanish conflict was under discussion at to-day’s meeting, and a Soviet Note to Lord Plymouth, the chairman, was before the meeting. Russia, while agreeing to discuss this question in principle, indicated that she declined to agree to any discussion affecting assets of the Spanish Government, including gold of the Bank of Spain. A debate ensued, but no solution was reached. Further outstanding questions not directly affecting the launching of the supervision scheme were down for discussion, but the Italian and German representatives refused to proceed with these questions in view of the deadlock on the question of financial aid.