INSURGENTS ADVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 17

INSURGENTS ADVANCE

CLOSING IN ON MADRID LESSON IN MECHANISED WARFARE CAPTURE OF DRIHUEGA Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 11. The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ correspondent, who is accompanying the insurgents on their offensive from Siguenza, in which they advanced 321 miles in three days, says the fighting was a lesson in mechanised warfare and infantry infiltration tactics. Government troops were left only in strong machine-gun posts to delay tho advance, thereby playing into the hands of General Moscardo’s swiftly-moving troops advancing along the Aragon road. These troops speedily encircled the posts, causing a retirement, in which the loyalists were subjected to fire from the insurgents’ machine guns, artillery, and tanks. The insurgents hare now driven a wedge behind the Guadarrama range and completed the capture of Brihuega. Other insurgents captured two villages six miles south of Brihuega. The Government claims that a coun-ter-attack at dusk regained ground on the Guadalajara front. CHECK TO INSURGENTS LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 1 a.m.) The Madrid correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says: Heavy rain slowed up the fighting on the Guadalajara front. The impetus of the insurgent attack seems momentarily to have spent itself, enabling the Government to throw in strong reinforcements. It is claimed that the advance is definitely checked on the main Madrid-Saragossa road. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ANXIOUS TO HELP SPANISH GOVERNMENT. LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 11 a.m.) The International Labour Conference, meeting at Westminster, passed a resolution that the International Federation of Trade Unions considers that it must do everything possible to ensure for the Spanish Government means of defence if non-intervention breaks down- It criticises non-intervention as one-sided and tending to favour General Franco.” BOMBARDING THE CAPITAL MADRID, March 12. (Received March 13, at 11 a.m.) The insurgents opened a heavy bombardment on the capital, shells exploding in several quarters. A big insurance building was partially wrecked, COMPLAINT AGAINST ITALY VALENCIA, March 12. (Received March 13, at 11 a.m.) The Government is drawing the attention of the League to Italy’s violation of the non-intervention agreement. It states that 25,000 Italians are engaged on the Guardarrama front ° .IflM A SHIP SEIZED BAYONNE, March 12. (Received March 13, at 11 a.m.) Government trawlers seized from the insurgents a ship carrying arms, including 10,000,000 rounds of ammunition. QUESTIONS IN COMMONS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. (Received March 13, at noon.) In the House of Commons Miss Wilkinson asked the Home Secretary for what reason Miss Braun was turned back at Croydon and Mile Isabel Blum only permitted to enter the country on condition of her non-appearance at a private meeting of the International Committee for the Co-ordination of Aid to Spain. Mr Geoffrey Lloyd replied: “ The Home Secretary has authorised me to say that he will be prepared to withdraw the ban.” In reply to a further question whether, in the case of M. Vasch, the Home Secretary would consider extending tho time until to-morrow morning, Mr Lloyd replied in the affirmative. SUPERVISION PLANS APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF OFFICIALS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. (Received March 13, at noon.) The International Non-intervention Committee has appointed the personnel in connection with the system of supervision as follows: The Chairman of the International Board for Non-intervention .in Spain, which will he responsible for the administration of the scheme, is ViceAdmiral Van Dulm (Netherlands). The members of the board will be nominated by the representatives on the Committee of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Russia. The chief administrator for the scheme of sea observation is RearAdmiral Olivier (Netherlands). Tho chief administrator in France is Colonel Lunn (Denmark). A communique states that arrangements will be made for Vice-Admiral V-n Dulm, Vice-Admiral Olivier, and Colonel Lunn to arrive in London on Monday for the purpose of taking up their respective duties.