SIEGE AT TOLEDO

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 9

SIEGE AT TOLEDO

CASTLE BLOWN UP TERRIBLE DEVASTATION SURVIVORS HOLD OUT ATTACKERS REPULSED United Press Association—By Electric Tel*. ' " ■ ■ graph—Copyright. (Received September 19, noon.), LONDON, September "18. It is reported from Madrid' that attackers at Toledo, after a nine weeks' siege, exploded a mine and destroyed the insurgents'- stronghold, the alcazar (castle).

Incredible though it seems,, the survivors of the shattered alcazar are still holding out,and forced the Government troops to retire in the face of a withering rifle and machine-gun fire. The death roll as a result of the devastating explosion probably will never be known. It must be considerable, but the spirit of the'desperate defenders

remains unbroken. The occupants of the fortress ara believed ,to have totalled between 1200 and 1400. 'They were given repeated chances to surrender or to .send out the women and children, but-the only reply from the commander was "We will die together." Terrific explosions shook the whole city, windows being shattered. Masonry, rifles, machine-guns, and mutilated bodies were thrown up from the fortress, and a. cloud of dust and smoke rose in the sky as the debris rattled down on the tragic scene.

FIGHTING AT MALAGA. A message from Gibraltar states that the battleship Queen Elizabeth and destroyer Anthony hurriedly left for Malaga following reports of street fighting in which buildings were set on fire.

The Gibraltar correspondent of "The Times" says it is reliably reported from Malaga that the Red militia decline to fight. Trre Governor is urgently asking for reinforcements from Madrid. The insurgents are rapidly advancing to Malaga. A Teneriffe wireless message reports that the crews of the Government warships at, Malaga fought amongst themselves, the death roll being heavy. The loyalists triumphed and have returned to the ships in the harbour.