BOMBING OF TOWNS

Evening Star, Issue 22636, 30 April 1937, Page 9

BOMBING OF TOWNS

SPANISH CIVIL WAN REBELS' DENIAL DISPROVED Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, April 29. The Bilbao correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says: “ General Franco’s denial of knowledge of the destruction of Guernica has not created astonishment here, as similar but less terrible bombing of Durango was denied by the insurgents. In the presence of British eye-witnesses I have spoken to hundreds of homeless and distressed people, and all make precisely the same description of the events. I have seen and measured enormous bomb-holes in Guernica which, as I passed through the town the previous day, I can testify were not there before. Moreover, unexploded German aluminium incendiary bombs, which were found were marked ‘ Rheindorf Factory, 1936.’ The types of German aeroplanes were Junker heavy bombers, Hoinkel medium bombers, and Heinkel chasers. I, myself, was sheltering in a bomb-hole and was machine gunned by six returning chasers. According to statements by German pilots captured at Orchandiano at the beginning of the insurgent offensive in April, the German planes vVere manned entirely by German pilots, and nearly all the crews were German. The planes left Germany in February.’’

DENIAL FROM BERLIN BERLIN, April 29. It has been officially denied that German aeroplanes bombed Guernica. LOYALISTS BLAMED LONDON. April 29. (Received April 30, at 10 a.m.) A message from Hendaye says that the insurgents assert that the destruction of Guernica was due to loyalists, before evacuation, spraying petrol on the buildings of the principal neighbouring streets, which were chiefly of wood. Thus a few incendiary shells were sufficient to turn the town into an inferno. Mines were also exploded. BILBAO REFUGEES APPEAL TO BRITAIN AND FRANCE. LONDON, April 29. Despairing appeals to Britain and France to assist refugees from Bilbao were quickly answered. It was announced after a private meeting of members of the House of Commons that an throughout the nation for funds would be launched. It is hoped to begin evacuation in two days. The spokesman said that the Foreign Office would fully approve, and this is interpreted to mean that the Navy would assist. M. Picavea, the representative of the Basque Government in Paris, interviewed M. Delbos, after which he said there were enough ships at Bilbao to evacuate refugees, who want France and Britain to protect the ships against rebels. GERMANY'S HOPES LONDON, April 29. The Paris correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that Ssnor Anzar, the Basque Minister of Commerce, declared: “We are now involved in a direct struggle with Germany for Bilbao’s steel factories and iron mines, of which Germany hopes to take possession without destruction, hence she is aiming at forcing evacuation.” THE THREE-MILE LIMIT BRITAIN’S POLICY UNCHANGED. LONDON, April 29. The ‘ Morning Post 1 says the British; Government rejected General Franco’s protest against the action of the Hood and the Fire Drake in protecting the Macgregor, the Hamsterlcy, and the Stanbrook, maintaining that the war-! ships’ operations occurred outside the three-mile limit and were therefore quite legitimate, refusing to recognise General Franco’s claim that Spanish territorial waters extend six miles from the coast. There will, therefore, be no change in the British policy in relation to the blockade. CARGO SHIPS LEAVE FOR BILBAO ST. JEAN DE LUZ, April 29. Escorted by the British destroyer Shropshire, four British cargo steamers, the Marvia, Thorpe Hall, Sheaffield, and Portelei, have left for Bilbao. ARRIVAL REPORTED BILBAO. April 29. (Received April 30, at 8 a.m.) The Thorpehall, Sheaffield, Portelet, and Marvia have arrived. ANOTHER SHIP REACHES BILBAO BILBAO, April 29. The British food ship Backworth ar. rived without incident. She was accompanied to the three-mile limit by a British destroyer. IRISH BRIGADE TO RETURN LONDON, April 29. General O’Duffy’s Irish Brigade will shortly. return homo from Spain owing to the Free. State non-intervention legislation.

BASQUE CHILDREN ARRANGEMENTS FOR EVACUATION. LONDON, April 29. (Received April 30, at 1 p.m.) Sir John Simon, in a letter to Mr Wilfred Roberts, secretary of the National Joint Committee for Spanish ReIlief, said the Government was prepared to facilitate the evacuation of a limited number of Basque children to England on condition there was no charge on tho public funds, also that eventually they would be repatriated to Spain. The committee is arranging to evacuate refugees to France and Belgium, as well as to England. PRESSING ON TO BILBAO (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 29. (Received April 30, at 1 p.m.) General Mela’s troops are pressing on towards Bilbao, leaving a trail of death and destruction. They occupied desolated Guernica, and also encircled Durango, where they took over 1,000 prisoners. The Basques are resisting desperately, and are dynamiting bridges and roads in order to hinder the pursuers. However, the insurgents confidently declare that they will occupy Bilbao on May 2, which is the anniversary of the Carlist siege in 1874. BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S DESIRE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 29. (Received April 30, at noon.) Lord Plymouth repeated in the House of Lords, when replying to a debate raised by Viscount Cecil on the bombing of Guernica, tho regret expressed in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary at the bombardment of civilian populations by aircraft engaged on both sides in the civil war in Spain. He also reiterated Mr Eden’s assurance of the desire of His Majesty’s Government to see an agreement between the combatants which would prevent a recurrence of such deplorable events. FOOD SHIP REACHES BILBAO (Bmi=h Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 29. (Received April 30, at noon.) The British steamer Backworth, carrying a large consignment of foodstuffs, presented by subscription to humanitarian organisations for the relief of sufferers in the Spanish war, has reached Bilbao. The vessel had passed inspection under the non-inter-vention'Scheme. GENERAL FRANCO'S PROTEST BRITISH POLICY EXPLAINED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 29. (Received April 30, at noon.) In regard to the oral protest made by General Franco’s envoy to the British Ambassador at Hendaye regarding the circumstances of the entry of three British food ships to Bilbao on April 23, it is officially denied in London that these vessels were convoyed by H.M.S. Hood, or that either the Hood or the destroyer Fire Drake, both of which were in the area off Bilbao at the time, entered territorial waters. The British Government has repeatedly stated that it has no intention whatever of instituting a convoy system for British ships entering Spanish ports, and it is further stated that the Fire Drake merely indicated tho position of the three-mile limit to the three British ships. No reply has been received from General Franco to the British protest against attempted interference with these British merchant ships on tho high seas.. Tho British Government’s policy on tho issue involved remains unchanged. While the British Government is unable to advice British shipping to enter Bilbao it is determined, whether that advice is followed or not, to protect British shipping on the high seas when such protection is required. This policy has been maintained impartially without discrimination since the beginning of the Spanish civil war. SCANDINAVIAN SUGGESTION RUGBY, April 29. (Received April 30, at noon.) Following representations by the Scandinavian Governments tho Chairman’s Committee of tho Non-intervention Committee will examine the suggestion that tho warships of the four Powers (Britain, France, Germany, and Italy) engaged in patrol duty off Spain in connection with the non-intervention control scheme should protect from interference vessels proceeding to Spain with international observers on board.