SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 9

SPANISH CIVIL WAR

CAPTURE OF CADIZ REPORTED CLAIMS BY LOYALISTS REBELS USE MONARCHICAL AND FASCIST COLOURS Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright MADRID, August 8. The Government claims the capture of Cadiz and the suppression of a revolutionary outbreak at Badajoz. The loyalists, after securing Balearic Island and Iviza, reoccupied the Island of Fermentera. Burgos women threw fiowcrs and kisses, and children gave the Fascist salute when lorry loads of fresh rebel troops left insurgent headquarters to relieve their front-line comrades. The lorries bore monarchical red-and-yel-loW flags and Fascist red-and-black flags. General Mola has forbidden the troops to use the Fascist salute, contending that as Spanish volunteers they must give the correct military salute. TROOPS FROM MOROCCO ITALIANS SHOT IN BARCELONA LONDON, August 9. The Spanish coast on both sides of Gibraltar was in compete darkness last night. One report states that the Government is carrying out an important operation near Malaga. Another says rebels are being transported from Morocco. The Government claims a victory at Nafavria Pass, north of Madrid. Seven rebel aeroplanes bombed entrenched loyalists, and a rebel attack followed. After fierce fighting for ; 10 hours the rebels retired, leaving 200 dead and a number of machine-guns. The Italian Embassy in Madrid has protested to the Spanish Government against the deaths of three Italians who were shot in a street in Barcelona for no apparent reason. TRAGIC BLUNDER ARTILLERY FIRES ON ITS OWN INFANTRY LONDON, August 8. The British United Press Narbonno correspondent says: “A tragic blunder marked the Government advance in the northern Guadarrama sector, when a cofnmn of GOO loyalist militia was shattered by its own artillery while assembling to drive out rebels from Sietamo, which subsequently fell into Government hands despite the initial mistake. The loyalists had planned a combined aeroplane and artillery bombardment of Sietamo at 5.30 a.m., followed by an infantry advance from lines east of the town, while the militia column from the south-west blocked the rebel retreat. The artillery, owing to faulty liaison, was not advised that the lastnamed operation was pending, and the observers mi'stook the advancing militia for rebel reinforcements. The guns opened fire at a six-mile range, inflict- | ing havoc, plunging the column into rout and wrecking the attack on Huesea, leaving the rebels’ lino of retreat open. This was not the only example of lack of co-operation. Government planes elsewhere bombed rebel strongholds hours before the loyalist infantry was ready to advance, enabling the rebels to recover and reconsolidate the ' bombed positions. Militiamen complain that their commanders are leading them j to destruction and suspect them of treachery.” ANGER IN GERMANY THREE MORE NATIONALS REPORTED KILLED BERLIN, August 7. The Nazi Party’s Foreign Department has added fuel to rising tempers with the announcement that three more German citizens were killed, inI eluding a seven-year-old girl. The Press is filled with angry comments, apparently officially conspired. Germany has now two pocket battleships and four torpedo boats in Spanish waters, while the cruiser Koeln is off the coast of Portugal. Official quarters decline to disclose what steps Germany is contemplating, but it is believed that they largely depend on the attitude of Russia, which is viciously attacked in the Berlin Press. The French Ambassador drove to visit Baron von Nourath while posters displayed by the ‘ Allgemeine Zeitung ’ asked: “Is Franco delivering arms as well as neutrality proposals?” NON-INTERFERENCE MAINTAINED GERMANY'S ASSURANCES LONDON, August 8. Britain has made representations to Italy, Germany, and Portugal urging them to associate themselves with the French neutrality proposals. Portugal raised certain objections on account of her geographical position. The German Charge d’Affaires in London has given the Foreign Office explicit assurances that Germany has not sent any kind of war materials to the rebels, and has promised not to send such materials in the future. He also intimated that German warships had been instructed not to do anything which might be interpreted as sympathy with the rebels. It now appears that Germany, yielding to the

pressure of British opinion, is prepared to agree to neutrality, even if Italy refuses, provided satisfactory assurances are also obtained from Russia, Every port in North-eastern Spain will be visited by British warships during the week, and Britons will be urged to take the opportunity of leaving the Peninsula. Fears have been entertained that Germany intended to land marines at Barcelona. Though the terras of the German Note to Spain in respect to the alleged murder of citizens have not been announced, it is believed in London that Germany not merely demands a substantial money payment, but imposes a definite time limit. Berlin reports state that German intervention in Spain is authoritatively denied. A Foreign Office official declared that Germany decided on measures only after negotiations with the Spanish Government had been concluded. The amount of compensation Germany demands will depend on investigation of the personal affairs of the victims. The British United Press Berlin correspondent says M. Poncet called on Baron von Neurath, who accepted nonintervention, with the proviso that all nations remain strictly neutral. RECRUITING NATIVES GENERAL FRANCO BUSY LONDON, August 7. . The Casablanca correspondent of ‘The Times’ says: “General Franco, who is well furnished with money,- is recruiting natives at a great rate. He has won over the savage Riffian tribesmen, and if he succeeds in retaining their support he may be able to raise an additional army of 6,000. READY TO GROSS STRAITS LISBON, August 8. General de Llano claims that 20,000 are ready to cross the Straits. The rebels are purchasing powerful aeroplanes and soon will have a well-organ-ised air force. DECREE TO SEIZE SHIPS MADRID, August 8. The Cabinet has approved of a decree seizing ships of the Transatlantic Shipping Company operating between Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States. SAFETY OF GIBRALTAR BRITAIN WARNS BOTH SIDES (British Official Wireless.) , ; RUGBY, August 8. (Received August 10, at noon.) In view of the danger to which Gibraltar Harbour will he exposed, the British Government has informed both the Spanish Government and General Franco, commander of the insurgent forces, that in future no Spanish war vessel should proceed to anchor in the naval harbour at Gibraltar. A British warhsip will patrol the Straits of Gibraltar to protect British shipping from interference, and it was made clear that there must be no firing in future on British ships.

General Franco, moreover, has been informed that if military aircraft fly over Gibraltar they will be warned by the firing of three rounds in advance of the machine, and if this warning is not effective the fire will be directed at the aircraft. A recent incident in the neighbourhood was the dropping of bombs near the British ship Medon and the Dutch ship Zonnewyek a few miles off Europa Point yesterday, for which it is practically certain Spanish aircraft, operating from Morocco, were responsible. SABOTAGE ON REBEL CRUISER LONDON, August 9. (Received August 10, at 11 a.m.) The Government asserts that the rebel cruiser Almirante Cervera is unable to leave Ferro!, members of the crew having smashed important machinery. It also asserts that it intercepted a wireless message from the commander of the rebels at Oviedo stating that he was unable to hold out for more than a few hours unless reinforced. EVACUATION OF BRITISH NATIONALS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 8. (Received August 10, at noou.) Within the next two days British naval vessels will visit all ports on the north and cast coast of Spain, also the Balearic islands, in order to take away any remaining British nationals who are desirous of leaving. On the south coast British vessels are constantly visiting Spanish ports. There are in Madrid only 60 British subjects, including 25 members of the embassy and consulate staffs. FAVOURABLE REPLIES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 8. (Received August 9, at noon.) In addition to representations to the Powers already mentioned, the French Government has approached the Polish, Netherlands, and Czechoslovakian Governments in regard to non-interven-tion in Spain. Favourable replies have already been received from the two last named.

REBELS WELL EQUIPPED ENGLISH JOURNALIST'S IMPRESSIONS LONDON, August 9. (Received August 10, at 12.15 p.m.) Tho Madrid Press, which nowadays is exclusively Governmental, regards the French neutrality proposals as a lesser evil than foreign intervention. The Left Wing leader, Senor Caballero, declares that French assistance would automatically provoke the Fascist countries to co-operate with the rebels, entailing an international war, for which reason European neutrality is essential. Having seen some of the finest units of the rebel army marching between Sevilla and Granada, the ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ correspondent, who emphasises tho modern character of General Franco’s artillery, declares that he is convinced that Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao cannot resist such forces. He says General Mola’s northern troops approach the same standard with fine cavalry, workmanlike infantry and artillery, and eager volunteers. Meantime the Government successes in the important area around Saragossa continue.

The Gibraltar correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ estimated the Casualties in the bombardment of A!geciras«at 100 killed and wounded, mostly civilian. Tho only military damage consisted of the destruction of the local batteries and the gunboat Dato, while the infantry and artillery barracks, and military headquarters are intact. Private property suffered severely, especially the commercial wharves. Tho Government naval patrol in the waters at Ceuta and Algcciras have been increased to include tho destroyers Alcala, Galiano, and Chnrruca.

The Queen Elizabeth, flying the flag of the Mediterranean Commander-in-Chicf, entered Gibraltar Harbour. ,