ADVANCE ON BILBAO

Evening Star, Issue 22637, 1 May 1937, Page 17

ADVANCE ON BILBAO

REBELS USE MECHANISED INFANTRY GERMAN BOMBING PLANES ACTIVE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, April 30. ■ The insurgents’ bombardment of Bilbao. Amorebieta, and Galdacano, and other villages behind the front lino is expected as a prelude to intensive destruction, similar to that at Guernica and Bibar, preparing the advance for powerful mechanised divisions of the infantry. The Bilbao correspondent, of ‘ The Times ’ says that German Junkers and Heiukels are again very active, intermittently bombing and circling leisurely over the population to secure a moral effect. These methods are associated with consistent disseininaton of false news with a view to correcting the evil effect on foreign opinion. Thus, although Durango is full of bombholes and all churches have holes in the roofs, while every house in the neighbourhood of a church is shattered, and the dead number 200, including 14 mins who were machine-gunned from the air as they ran across the convent garden, every wall of which is nicked with machine-gun bullets, it is blandly assorted that it was the work of a Marxist mob, which docs not exist in Yiscaya. Similarly, when Eibar was burnt, the blame was placed on Asturian miners, who were never quartered there. When Guernica was destroyed the insurgents alleged that Anarchist militia, presumably aided by priests, started the fire, whereas the priests led the rescue work. It is clear that the damage was done by the Pajaros Negroes (“Blackbirds”), the current Spanish phrase for Junker bombers. BASQUE FORGES FALLING BACK LONDON, April SO. The ‘Daily Telegraph's’ Bilbao correspondent reports that the Basque forces are falling back on the last line of defence, about two miles east of Bilbao. He states that 22 bombers and six chasers, said to be German machines, attacked the village of Galdacano, but owing to the scattered nature of the village only 12 private houses were burned to the ground. ADVANCE HELP UP LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 11.5 a.m.) The rebels made no farther advance on the Bilbao front. The defenders have been strongly reinforced by men and material. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER Visit to parts. . LONDON, April 30. The ‘.Daily Mail’s ’ Paris correspondent states that Senor Del Vayo, the Spanish Foreign Minister, has arrived from Valencia, It is reported that he will plead for “ general assistance for the Government cause.” SINKING OF REBEL BATTLESHIP REPORTED BILBAO, April 30. It is reported that the insurgent battleship Espana was sunk by a Government aeroplane off Cabpmayor, in the north of Spain. 1 OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED BILBAO, April 30. (Received May 1, at 10.5 a.m.) It is officially confirmed that the Government aeroplane sank the rebel battleship Espana. The rebel destroyer Velasco rescued all the EspanaVcrew. The official account of the sinking of the Espana states that a Loyalist squadron went out to assist a merchantman of unknown nationality, which was appealing for help by wireless when stopped by the insurgents. Another account says the Espana was summoned by an insurgent destroyer, which fired 12 shots'at a British vessel, the name of which at present is unknown and which was attempting to enter Santander. Several squadrons of Government planes called up by the Santander authorities dropped powerful bombs, one hitting the Espana’s stern, which immediately submerged. The battleship sank in half an hour. It is believed that the Espana’s personnel included German and Italian officers and gunners. The merchantman, after the sinking of the Espana, returned to Santander. LAST OF THE ESPANA PARIS, April ,30. (Received May I, at 11 a.m.) A Santander message says that an aerial bomb, penetrating the magazine, sank the Espana, the successful plane being one of Santander’s new air fleet. Tho British freighter, on which tho vessel was firing, was the Knitsley, formerly the Thorpe Hall, homeward bound with minerals, but the Velasco and Espana also threatened other merchantmen. The Velasco escaped to sea after rescuing the officers of the Espana. It would have allowed the seamen to perish only the Santander fishing boats saved them. EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS ANGLO-FRENCH CO-OPERATION. PARIS, April 30. (Received May 1, at 10.30 a.m.) The Foreign Office announces that France and Britain have agreed to

facilitate the evacuation of several thousand civilians from Bilbao. Britain is making an effort to secure Genera! Franco’s promise that ho will not fire on refugee ships. FRENCH CO-OPERATION PARIS, April 30. ('Received May 1, at H a.in.) The Government, according to M. Delbos’s statement in the Senate, is co-ordinating with Britain in plans for the evacuation of refugees from everywhere necessary in the Basque territory. DISCUSSION IN COMMONS LONDON, April 30. Replying to Mr Dalton’s question in the House of Commons drawing attention to General Mola’s declaration that he intended to raze Bilbao, Mr Anthony Eden announced that the British Ambassador had been instructed to report urgently whether there was any foundation for believing that the insurgents contemplated such action. Mr Eden repeated the concern felt over the bombing of civilians, and added that, the Government was anxiously considering what action to take in order to, prevent a recurrence, -ft was urgently examining methods of cooperation with other Governments. He hoped to make a statement shortly. Sir Archibald Sinclair drew attention to reports of the destruction of another fown and the machine-gunning of fugitives. He asked what the effect would he ou the non-intervention agreement. Mr Eden said he would give a care-fully-oonsidpred reply. The Government must he allowed a .little time to decide the method of approaching the problem. BRITISH SHIPS AT BILBAO BOMBED -BILBAO, April 30. Fifteen bombers, described as German, dropped bombs round the British freighters Marvin, Thorpe Hall, Shea {field, and Portelet, when they were moored in the harbour. The raid lasted 15 minutes, hut the vessels were not hit. The insurgent battleship Espaiia, before bombing Bilbao Harbour, gent out a wireless warning to British merchantmen that they were sure to be bombed and machine-gunned if they ventured into the harbour. This was considered to indicate that the Germans deliberately sought them as targets. REFUGEE CHILDREN BRITAIN TO DO HER PART. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 30. (Received May 1, at 11 a.m.) Sir John Simon (Home Secretary), replying to a proposal made by a humanitarian organisation that a number of ; Basque children should ■, be brought to Britain, said he would grant the required facilities providing the number brought was in accordance with the voluntary subscribed funds at the disposal of the committee. The lady organiser of the committee left London by, air for St. Jean de Ltiz yesterday to assist in the preparations there for transportation if the children can be brought there. MANY HOMELESS ORPHANS LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 11 a.m.) Miss Megan Lloyd George has circularised thousands of women’s Liberal organisations soliciting aid to evacuate refugee children from Bilbao, many of whom are already homeless orphans. NORTHERN SPANISH AREA TWO BRITISH BATTLESHIPS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. April 30. (Received May. 1, at 11 a.m.) The battleship Resolution is to proceed to north Spanish waters where she will relieve the cruiser Shropshire. When the Resolution arrives there will be for the first time two British battleships—the Resolution and the Royal Oak—in the northern Spanish area.