REBEL REVERSES

Evening Star, Issue 22620, 12 April 1937, Page 9

REBEL REVERSES

SPANISH CIVIL WAR LOYALISTS RESUME OFFENSIVE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright MADRID, April 10. The Government forces, having deployed fanwise into the western outskirts of Madrid, have resumed the offensive against the rebels, who are cut off from their base in the Casa del Campo. It is estimated that there are 10,000 insurgents in the shattered ruins of students’ hostels. The loyalists claim further successes south of Madrid. A Bilbao report states that the captain of the Amsterley, one of four British merchantmen bound for Bilbao laden with foodstuffs which Britain advised to remain at St. Jean de Luz pending the clarification of the situation, says that General Franco declares he will prevent any food entering Bilbao even at the risk of an incident with the British Navy.

The battle cruiser Hood has left Gibraltar with instructions to protect British shipping, and the cruiser Shropshire is proceeding to the coast of North Spain. " FRANCO CANNOT WIN " DEAN OF CANTERBURY’S VIEWS. LONDON, April 10. A Toulouse message says that the Dean of Canterbury has declared that General Franco is conducting the war atrociously. The dean added that he was convinced that General Franco could not win. The loyalists were fighting with indescribable zeal and were determined to build a truly Christian social order based on a vision of new life. TRAPPED IN TUNNEL WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED. (BILBAO, April 9. Seven were killed and 30 were injured when a train tore a group of women and children taking refuge from an air raid in a tunnel between Plencia and Bilbao. PROTECTION WANTED NORWEGIAN MERCHANTMEN. OSLO, April 10. Received April 12, at 8 a.m.) The Government has asked Parliament to vote credit enabling the minelayer Olav Tryggvason to be sent to Spanish waters owing to the frequent seizures of Norwegian merchantmen.

HEAVY BOMBARDMENT MADRID, April 11. (Received April 12, at noon.) Using high explosive shells and incendiary shrapnel, the insurgents began a heavy bombardment of the city. It is estimated that between 75 and 100 persons were killed by midday, wlitn the bombardment ceased. ITALY’S POSITION MUSSOLINI’S TWO COURSES. LONDON, April 11. (Received • April 12, at 11.5 a.m.) The ‘ Manchester Guardian’s ’ Geneva correspondent says that, according to information from an authoritative Rome source there are serious differences between Signor Mussolini and the Italian military authorities about Italian intervention in Spain. The authorities are reported to have expressed the opinion that the present situation cannot continue, saying that Italy should either withdraw her troops now in Spain or withdraw from the Non-interveution Committee and openly send to Spain a large expeditionary force capable of securing rapid victory over the Spanish Government. It appears likely that Signor Mussolini will have to adopt one or other of these courses.

THE BATTLE CRUISER HOOD LONDON, April 11. (Received April 12, at 12.30 p.m.) The Admiralty Las still not disclosed the destination of the battle cruiser Hood, under the command of ViceAdmiral G. Blake, but it is believed that the vessel is going to Bilbao, where the loyalist defenders claim to have improved their position on the Alava front. LOYALIST PLANES FORCED DOWN PARIS, April 11. (Received April 12, at 12.35 p.m.) The authorities seized five Spanish loyalist aeroplanes which were forced down owing to fog at Limoges, also at two points in the Hautes Pyrenees. IRISH COMBATANTS

LONDON, April 11. (Received April. 12, at 10.5 a.m.) The Irish Press breaks its long silence regarding Irish combatants in Spain, belatedly announcing the deaths of four Irish members of the American Lincoln (Loyalist) Battalion in the Jarama sector, bringing the total casualties of the two companies to 14 dead and 30 wounded. Six members of the Irish Brigade on the rebel side were killed and several wounded by shell fire in the assault on Ciempozuelos last month.