BILBAO EVACUATION

Evening Star, Issue 22638, 3 May 1937, Page 9

BILBAO EVACUATION

ATTITUDE OF REBEL GENERAL FOREIGN HELP “ AN UNFRIENDLY ACT " GERMAN TROOPS REPORTED AT SAN SEBASTAN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 1. General de Llano, in a broadcast from Seville, said that any foreign Power helping in the evacuation of the civilian population from Bilbao would be considered to be committing an unfriendly act against the Nationalists, The Bilbao correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says 1,500 German volunteers were landed at San Sebastian on April 24. A false air raid alarm was sounded to keep the population underground so that the Germans might not be seen as they travelled through the town. BERLIN DENIAL BERLIN, May 1. The News Agency denies that Ger man troops landed at San Sebastian. EVACUATION OF CHILDREN OFFER BY BRITISH VESSEL. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 8 a.m.) A Bilbao message states that the captains of nine British vessels have agreed to evacuate as many children as possible, probably 5,000. Destroyers will carry- others. INSURGENT PLANES ACTIVE BOMBS DROPPED ON PORT. LONDON, May 1. A Bilbao message states that three insurgent planes, apparently of Italian manufacture, dropped two bombs on Bilbao and a third in a park, killing a boy. Five others fell about the British destroyer Faulknor, anchored l in the outer harbour. The British food ship Stancourt has arrived. SINKING OF THE ESPANA JUBILATION AMONG LOYALISTS. LONDON, May 1. The evening papers in Bilbao jubilantly featured the Espana’s destruction on the front page, and sent cars tearing through the town bearing placards “The Espana in halves. The remainder of the blockading fleet scared into the blue;”The Bilbao correspondent of 1 The Times ’ learns that the bombing planes had no difficulty in. locating the Almirante Cervera, because immediately the latter learned of the Espana disaster she sped at full speed eastwards. -She was reported at 3,30 p.m. by an alert signaller at Cape Mayor to be 55 miles west of Santander. The bombing planes had time to drop only three bombs before the Almirante Cervera sped off. THE KNITSLEY BERTHED ARRIVAL NEAR SANTANDER. SANTANDER, May 1. The Knitsley berthed ■ at Castro Urdiales, 30 miles east of Santander. The captain, in obedience to Admiralty orders, .was uncommunicative, but a sailor disclosed that hardly had the Velasco stopped the Knitsley, with the Espana half a mile off, when the aeroplanes came into action.

The Basques were heartened by the news of the incident and were further encouraged by advancing nearly two miles in the Bizcazgui Hills, near Ariazua, two miles east of Guerinca. DEFIANT CAPTAIN LONDON, May 1. (Received May 3, at 8 a.m.) The Bilbao correspondent of ‘ The Times’ says: “The Espaha signalled the Knitsley to stop just outside the three-mile limit, to which the Knitsloy replied, ‘You can’t stop me, I’m British.’ GUERNICA BOMBING (Biitish Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 1. (Received May 3, at 11 a.m.) Several questions of the Guernica bombing will be addressed to the Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons on Monday. One member will ask the Government to initiate proposals for an impartial inquiry into the circumstances. BASQUES SUCCESSFUL MAY DAY OFFENSIVE. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 2 p.m.) The Basques commemorated May Hay by partly avenging Guernica. They celebrated the destruction of the Espana by an unexpectedly successful counter offensive. The Bilbao correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the Basques wore victorious all along the line, the rebel attacks failing at every point with the loss of 2,500 dead and, wounded, Basque reports, increase this number to 8,500. They intercepted rebel m.esages for reinforcements and ambulances and the rebels fell into a caro-

fully prepared trap. Pushing forward along the coastal road from Guernica, they met with no resistance and entered Bermeo, the former headquarters for the evacuation of refugees. Here Carlist volunteers received the reinforcements, only to find themselves encircled by Basque battalions and artillery.