VIEW IN FRANCE

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 10

VIEW IN FRANCE

MYSTERY AEROPLANES

CONVENTION BREACH

THE CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN

United Press Association—By Electric lelegraph—Copjruht. (Received August 1, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. A very grave view is taken in France of the movements which were' attended by the fatal crashes of ths mysterious Italian aeroplanes in Morocco. These aeroplanes were painted white, without marks of identification, contrary to the existing air convention, and were in* tended for military purposes. They were equipped with turrets and four machine-guns, and contained quantities of ammunition. It is believed that the fleet totalled ten aeroplanes, and it is supposed that they were bound from Sardinia for Melilla. Six men were aboard the machine which made a forced landing near the Moulouya River on tha French side of the Franco-Spanish, frontier of Morocco. The men were uninjured arid the machine undamaged. The authorities ' have interned its occupants at Uj da, in French Morocco. Another is reported to have come down in the sea 50 miles from the Algerian coast. The French Air Minister, General Denain, has arrived at Ujda in order to investigate matters. ITALIAN OCCUPANTS. A third aeroplane which made a forced landing continued on its course. The machine which crashed near Nemours, and that which landed at Moulouya, were Savoia Marchettis, with 700 horse-power Alfa Romeo engines. The occupants were Italian officers and sub-officers in civilian clothes. The remainder of the aeroplanes apparently reached the rebel lines at Nador, near Melilla. A message from Rabat announces ths arrival of fourteen foreign aeroplanes in Spanish Morocco. The Spanish Government reports that mysterious Italian aeroplanes, 20 of which are said to have reached destinations in Morocco, were purchased by the millionaire Juan March, who arrived in Perpignan in a British aeroplane. The loyalists allege that he is helping to organise the insurrection. In the House of Commons Socialist members urged the Government to use its influence to prevent other Powers aiding the Spanish rebels. Lord Cranborne replied that Spain was a cause of serious anxiety to everybody. Aeroplanes the sale of which was reported were civil aircraft and the Government had no power to intervene. The fact that a sale- took place did not necessarily, signify Government approval. A message from Rome states that the Italian Government is withholding any statement regarding its attitude in connection with Spain. REBEL SUCCESS ADMITTED. The Spanish Government admits the defeat of a loyalist column under General Perez Ferras on July 27 while it was.en'route to Saragossa from Catalonia. The victors were General Mola's southern army. ' Other loyalist columns have reached the outskirts of Saragossa, and the Government is preparing a counter-attack, with every hope of success. Fast" Government bombing aeroplanes are continuously -harrying the rebels, whose right wing was successfully attacked at Navalperal; 30 milea wesf of Madrid, by Colonel Mangada, inflicting a loss of 73 dead and many wounded. A battalion of a thousand women armed with rifles, with women officers, has been formed in Madrid to relieve militia sent to the northern front. Newly-formed death companies of the sth Regiment to which the women's battalion is attached include several girls. The death companies are armed with dynamite grenades. The insurgent Colonel Ortiz Zarate has disposed 12,000 men for a fresh attack on San Sebastian, and rebel-ar-tillery is now bombarding the city. Prince Carlos has arrived at Pamplona from Cannes. It is supposed that he intends to discuss a Carlist succession "with Monarchist supporters in Navarre. STATE OF CRISIS IN BARCELONA. The Catalan Government at Barcelona, which is independent of the Spanish Government, has formed a new Ministry for the defeat of Fascism under Senor Casanova, and has declared a state of crisis o^ying to the possibility of a clash with Left Wing extremists- Senor Luis Companys, in handing over his office, appeals for the support of all parties for Senor Casanova. . . "The Times" correspondent on the French frontier states that Barcelona and Catalonia are scenes of a reign of terror. "Purification squads" are searching houses, seizing suspects, and assassinating them in lonely spots. The Anti-Fascist Military Committee has announced its determination to stop this, but the situation is out of hand. A dozen bodies of people who were taken from their homes and shot by the search committees have been found at Mt. Tibidaba, near Barcelona. Among them were four murdered and two wounded Dominican nuns. A squad three times searched a factory owner's house at Tarrasa and took away his family of eight and shot them. . ; SOVIET PROMISES TO LOYALISTS. The "Daily Mail" asserts that four Russian wireless stations broadcast nightly to loyalists throughout Spain promising them funds in aid of decisive battles for a Spanish Soviet Republic. A message from Majorca states that H.M.S. Repulse departed with 500 refugees of seventeen nationalities for Marseilles. The rebels are again bombing Palma, and have destroyed the Hotel Formentor, where the' Prince of Wales stayed in 1934. , It is reported from Rome that Spanish, submarines stopped an Italian ship in the Strait of Gibraltar and that the Government has protested to Madrid.