DESPERATE TACTICS

Evening Star, Issue 22573, 15 February 1937, Page 9

DESPERATE TACTICS

REBEL CAVALRY ADVANCE MACHINE GUNS EMPTY SADDLES RUSSIAN TANKS IN ACTION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 12. The desperate nature of the attempted rebel advance from Jarama can be gauged from the fact that they hurled 1,500 cavalry across the wrecked bridge in a half-mile charge across the plain against hills defended by machine guns. The rebels bombarded intensively under cover of which the horsemen advanced, the animals stumbling on the bridge, but the majority struggling across and surging forward in a solid mass, whilq machine guns emptied saddle after saddle, r Nevertheless, the cavalry reached the foothills, and the riders flung themselves off and left their horses with horse-holders and advanced on foot with hand grenades and won the crest of the hills. Suddenly five Russian tanks roared into action from the loyalist positions and shelled the cavalry, the survivors of which galloped for shelter behind a bluff. The tanks then paid attention to the rebel artillery, compelling its partial withdrawal. The loyalist infantry promptly left Yacia Madrid and traversed the plain under fire until they were able to occupy the trenches previously prepared, only to be attacked by two rebel regiments numbering 5,000, who, crowded into groups between rushes, were subjected to a galling fire by machine guns and 16 Government planes suddenly swooping down from Yacia Madrid. The planes wheeled and returned to the attack, to be met with fire from the rebel “ Archies,” which had earlier been taken by surprise. One plane was blown to bits in mid-air by a direct hit. The remainder of the rebel artillery and tanks attempted to cross the river, but were checked by the loyalists, ending the first phase of what General Franco hopes will bo the decisive battle in his onslaught on Madrid. VALENCIA HIGHWAY BATTLE FOR MASTERY MADRID, February 13. The battle for the mastery of the Valencia highway, on which the capital’s food supplies depend, continues. The Government claims that it counterattacked for 24 hours and captured important positions near Yacia Madrid and Mount Pajres, and booty, including two tanks. The insurgents declare that they repulsed other counter-attacks, capturing five tanks and three guns. Reports telephoned to-night state that the insurgents’ motorised forces again attempted to force Jarama in the afternoon, but were met by a withering fire from machine guns, mortars, and rifles.. Scores of aeroplanes bombed the tanks attempting to force the river. Insurgent aircraft arrived, but the Government claims that it crashed three insurgent machines, one, according to papers, piloted by an Italian, who was killed. The Government asserts that all attacks have been defeated after six hours’ terrific fighting, with heavy losses. Meanwhile General Franco’s forces again took the offensive in other sectors- near Madrid, making a special effort to reach the Aragon highway in the Guadalajara region. Fighting recommenced at University City, where in a battle which lasted throughout the night the Government claims that it recovered the greater part of West Park. The authorities are again urging the voluntary evacuation of non-combatants in order to ease the food problem and avoid the dangers of bombardments and air raids, which to-day are officially announced to have killed 573 civilians, including 161 women and 218 children, and to have injured 1,884, of whom 900 were women. Since the start of the siege at Almoria the insurgents have bombed the working class district, killing eight. Other planes dropped pamphlets demanding surrender. DEFENDERS OF CAPITAL SPURRED TO NEW EFFORTS LONDON, February 12. The Madrid correspondent of 1 The Times ’ says that, far from being depressed by the fall of Malaga* the defenders of the capital have been spurred to new efforts. They demand conscription, a single high command, the cessation of party rivalries in order to present an undivided front. They repulsed attacks at Las Rozas and Moncloa, and virtually brought the rebels in the Jarama salient to a standstill. COMPLICATED ISSUES ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH LONDON, February 12. The Bishop of Gibraltar has issued a statement supporting the utility of investigating the complicated issues in Spain, but deprecating the Church of England identifying itself with either side, and adding that foreign interventionists are exploiting the Spaniards. General Franco, broadly sneaking, h

with the Spanish Church, which is the true church of the country, despite notorious abuses. Spanish Protestants support the loyalist Government. VATICAN REPRESENTATIVES LONDON, February 12. The Pope sent two Vatican representatives to Spain, one to each Government, while Burgos and Valencia have sent accredited representatives to the Holy See. CAPTURE OF MALAGA PERSONNEL OF REBEL ARMY. LONDON, February 12. The army which captured Malaga is reported to have included 5,000 Moors, 5.000 legionaries, 10,000 Germans, ?nd 15.000 Italians. The insurgents are advancing from Motril to Alicante. INSURGENT COURT-MARTIAL CIVIL GUARDS TRIED. LONDON, February 12. The insurgent court-martial at Malaga tried 36 Civil Guards and sentenced 27 to death, four to -life imprisonment, one to six years’ imprisonment, and acquitted four. CATALONIAN DISTURBANCES LONDON, February 12. Disturbances by rival factions are reported from Catalonia. NUMEROUS AIR BATTLES WOMEN COMBATANTS WITHDRAWN FROM FRONT LINES MADRID, February 14. (Received February 15, at 2 p.m.) Air battles are numerous. Seven rebel planes were shot down in two days. The scene of to-day’s fiercest fighting was in the vicinity of Arganda, 10 miles south-east of Madrid, where the loyalists successfully bombed and bombarded advancing rebel tanks and retained their position. Giving evidence at the mass trial in Madrid of 84 prisoners charged with rebellion, Cerro Rojo revealed that tw.o battalions of a foreign legion consisting entirely of Irishmen were present at Pinto, south of Jarama battlefield. Genera Miaja, while complimenting them for their courage, ordered the retirement of all -women combatants from the Madrid front lines. DAMAGE TO MALAGA TENTH OF CITY DESTROYED. GIBRALTAR, February 14. (Received February 15, at 12.30 p.m.) Granted permission by the military authorities, a correspondent visited Malaga and found a tenth of the city destroyed or gutted. The total damage is estimated at £20,000,000. There are no hotels, restaurants, cinemas, shops, churches, or convents left. Only the walls remain of the famous cathedral. The altar and images have gone. Inhabitants in the precincts said that over 1.000 people had been living in the cathedral for six months with donkeys, goats, and dogs. Dozens of cases of smallpox are reported, and deaths occur daily. English residents said Malaga suffered 44 air raids. -The biggest was on January 2, when 10 aeroplanes dropped 40 bombs in the heart of the city, setting fire to many buildings. The worst shelling was on January 11 by the cruiser Canarias, when 100 shells exploded, wrecking buildings. NON-INTERVENTION COMMITTEE “ WORK BEING SABOTAGED.” VALENCIA, February 14. (Received February 15, at 1 p.m.) Senor Del Vayo, broadcasting throughout Spain, said Italy and Germany had been sabotaging the work of the Non-intervention Committee. He described Malaga as a Mediterranean port being placed in the service of II Duce by subalterns under orders from Berlin and Rome. ' USE OF ITALIAN TROOPS CAUSING ANXIETY TO BRITAIN AND FRANCE. PARIS, February 14. (Received February 15, at 1.5 p.m.) ‘ Petit Parisien ’ says the reported landing of Italian troops at Malaga is causing anxiety in the British and French Governments. “ Pertinax,” in the ‘ Echo de Paris,’ says intervention will continue to be hypocritically indirect, then turn into open intervention-, COMMUNIST BANDITS SENTENCED MALAGA, February 14. (Received February 15, at 2 p.m.) The rebel authorities sentenced to death 38 so-called Communist bandits ancl sentenced five to life imprisonment and two to 20 years.