VALENCIA SHELLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1938, Page 9

VALENCIA SHELLED

MORE TOWNS BOMBED

WARNING BY FRANCE

(Unileil l*re.-s Association— By Electric Tcleeraph—Copyright.)

LONDON,-January 23

An official announcement in Barcelona asserts that five rebel warships, including two Italian destroyers rising Spanish names, which are incorporated in the insurgent fleet, shelled Valencia from a distance of five miles, firing 40 projectiles.

A Valencia message states that rebel vessels shelled Pinedo. Loyalist batteries drove them off.

It is reported from Barcelona that rebel planes twice bombed Figueras, killing 14 and wounding 50. • The loyalists bombed Seville, killing 24.

The casualties in the rebel bombing of Puigcerda were 21 killed and 17 wounded.

After their bombing of Puigcerda the raiders flew over Andorra and bombed Sco dc Urgel, whose bishop shares with the French President control of the tiny republic of Andorra. The bombs caused a heavy death-roll.

The Prefect of the French province adjoining Puigcerda has demanded aerial defence from Paris.

As the result of rebel raids on loyalist coastal towns, 595 persons have been killed since January 1, before the loyalists announced^ on January 21 that reprisals would be undertaken on rebel objectives. Buildings destroyed in the Valencia raid on January 22 included the convent of Santa Monica, occupied by 200 nuns, some of whom were killed.

The "News Chronicle" says that for the first time since the early days of the campaign, the loyalists bombed Ceuta, from which place Moorish levies embark for' Spain. The Gibraltar correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that the bombardment of Ceuta caused several civil casualties, but no military damage. The Perpignan correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that France has warned rebel headquarters at Salamanca that her aircraft patrols and anti-aircraft guns, will fire without v/arning on any Spanish aeroplane flying over French territory with a military objective. A Barcelona message stales that it is estimated that there have been 76 raids on Government towns between December. 15 and January 20, 32 of which resulted in 263 being killed and 465 wounded. A Government announcement states that the battle of Teruel continues, but with less intensity. All enemy attacks have been repulsed.