WARNING TO BASQUES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1937, Page 9

WARNING TO BASQUES

CALL FOR SURRENDER

THREAT OF DESTRUCTION

LONDON, June IG.

i Insurgent aeroplanes . dropped thousands ox leaflets over Bilbao signed by the rebel ccmmander-iii-chief, General Franco, and saying: "If you persist, death and destruction await you. Those who surrender their arms will not be harmed, provided they have not committed crimes."

The radio station at Durango warned the Basques to avoid the streets and not to be tempted to make a general exodus to the west, which would inevitably lead to panic and carnage.

A report from Salamanca claims that out of 8000 Basques cut off by rebel forces, 6000 surrendered. N

A- Spanish Government official report issued from Valencia admits that the enemy has broken through the Belt of fortications and succeeded in occupying a number of hills along the right bank of the River Nervion.

An unconfirmed report from Bayonne says that lighting • has broken out between Communists and the less extreme elements, who have been trying to prevent the Communists from setting fire to Ihc city before evacuation.