EVENTS IN OPORTO

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 33, 9 February 1927, Page 9

EVENTS IN OPORTO

HEAVY BOMBARDMENT

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, Bth February. A message from Madrid states that little is known of events in Oporto beyond official dispatches. . - ..

It appears, however, that the revolutionaries include a rifle regiment with six heavy and six light machine guns. They were also composed partly of Republican Guards as well as some ordinary infantry with guns. Captain Chaves, who was in command, occupied without firing a shot the palace of the Civil Governor, the gates of which were opened by the residents in order to prevent bloodshed.

A^ revolutionary committee was immediately formed under the presidency of General Sousa Bias, who was in a military hospital under arrest by order of the' Government when the revolution broke out.

The committee peremptorily telegraphed to the Prime Minister in Lisbon demanding the Ministry's resignation. The Premier's reply was to send out troops, who took up a position in a suburb off Gaia, from which they bombarded the rebels' headquarters. Firing, ceased as soon as possible, in order to spare the town from further loss. Besides the Governor's palace, one theatre and one hotel were badly'damaged by shellfire. The Government troops then began a movement, gradually surrounding the malcontents who, during the bombardment, had replied vigorously to the fire of the Government troops.

The civil population seemed to be taken by surprise, and did not participate in the fighting.

Details of the losses on either side at present are unknown.