SPANISH EMBROGLIO

Evening Star, Issue 22639, 4 May 1937, Page 9

SPANISH EMBROGLIO

■BILBAO EVACUATION PLANS NATIONALIST OBJECTIONS RAISED PROTEST "AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE" Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, 7 ay 2. The British Embassy at Hendayo informed the Foreign Office that the Nationalists strongly object to the decision to help with the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao and other Basque ports. The protest is an unpleasant surprise, as it is felt that no objection is possible because of the humanitarian aspect. The preparations which are proceeding for the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao may result in the greatest oceanic migration in history. The Spanish steamer Habana, 10,551 tons, now at Nervion, will carry the first batch to France on May 4. Three thousand children capable of maintaining themselves will participate in the first trip, with 800 to be maintained in France by the General Labour Confederation, which has agreed to provide for a total of 2,300. Mrs Leah Manning, representing the Relief Committee, telegraphed to Sir Walter Citrine asking whether the Trades Union Council was willing to do likewise. The Sota family has placed a steam yacht at the service of the Basque Government for humanitarian purposes. These and other ships, convoyed by the British Navy, will fly St. George’s Cross as a special flag and as a compliment. GENERAL FRANCO'S ALLEGATIONS EVACUATION A RUSE BY . RUSSIANS. LONDON, May 3. (Received May 4, at 11 a.m.) The British Government has'received a communication from General Franco alleging' that evacuation is a ruse by the Russians, who are alleged to be in command of Bilbao, to get rid of the civil population and destroy the city and other towns. General Franco adds that he cannot guarantee the safety of consulates of undbrtake not to bomb port shipping, as military objectives are situated in the neighbourhood. The Spanish Embassy in London describes the allegations as “ absolute rubbish.” It is understood that the British and French arrangements for evacuation have been completed. The first contingent of 5,000, mainly children, is ready to leave Bilbao. The insurgents made two air • bombing raids on Bilbao. Little damage was caused. INSURGENTS REPULSED FREQUENT DESERTIONS. LONDON, May 2, The correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ at Bilbao says: “ The Basques treated as a picnic an attempted afternoon attack by insurgents along the Barmeo road. Jose Rezola, the young Secretary for Defence, took a rifle and joined a battalion of plain-clothes soldiers. The insurgents fled, dropping their rifles and abandoning material. Many insurgents were killed. The wounded were admitted to hospital in Bilbao. Rezola returned to the Ministry _ with booty he won from Italians, consisting of a trench mortar, a steel helmet, three rifles, two gas masks, and much ammunition. An Italian prisoner described the composition of the fleeing brigade as half Spanish and half Italian. On the centre front Government troops defeated the so-called Flechas Negras (Black Arrows). These are Spaniards commanded by Italian officers'and noncommissioned officers. Desertions from this corps have been numerous. All complain of inability to understand the orders, since the officers have learned only Castilian, which is not understood locally. MADRID UNDER FIRE BOMBARDMENT CONTINUES. MADRID, May 2. The bombardment is being continued every day. Loyalists dropped leaflets over the rebel lines warning “ Spaniards against serving foreign invaders. Today is the anniversary of May 2, 1808, when Madrid repelled the invasion of Napoleon’s army. Madrid’s defenders are in our camp. Up with your hands. We await you.” FATE OF THE ESPANA MAY HAVE STRUCK MINE. LONDON, May 3. A message from Vittoria states that the insurgent naval staff declares that the Espana was sunk by a mine, one of many laid by rebel minelayers. ‘ The Times ’ adds that information which has reached London indicates I that the possibility of the Espana striking a mine cannot be ruled out. “ LEGITIMATE OBJECTIVE " ANOTHER SIDE TO GUERNICA BOMBING. LONDON, May 3. f Major Hugh Pollard, sporting editor | of ‘ Country Life,’ ,in a letter to ‘ The Times,’ contends that the bombing of Guernica was not an attack on an unimportant civilian town. Guernica is almost as great a centre for small arms manufacture as Eibar. Numerous main j factories make arms manufacturing the

dominant industry. Thus Eibar and Guernica were legitimate objectives. [Major Pollard is Major Hugh B. C. Pollard, who helped General Franco to escape from Teneriffe.] STATEMENTS IN COMMONS % (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 3. (Recevied May 4, at 1 p.ra.) Questioned in the House of Commons regarding the bombing of Guernica, the Foreign Secretary replied that a telegram had been sent to His Majesty’s Ambassador and to the Consul at Bilbao requesting them to forward any information which might assist in establishing the facts. Their replies were gtill being received. “ I am, therefore,” he said, “ not in a position to make a considered statement on the subject.” The decision of the. Government to afford British naval protection to refugee ships from Bilbao was mentioned by Mr Eden, who explained that the scheme of evacuation of women, children, and old people would apply to persons of all political creeds, and the British Consul would be in close touch with the arrangements to ensure impartiality. Mr Eden also informed the House that a reply had been received from the insurgent authorities rejecting the proposal and making alternative proposals of their own for ensuring the safety of the civilian population. He added that His Majesty’s Government intended, nevertheless, to give the assistance to which he had referred. HEROIC FISHWIVES FLEEING ITALIANS’ ORDEAL. ST. JEAN DE LUZ, May 3. (Received May 4, at 1.5 p.m.) Alter the Italians lied to Bermeo from the Basques they had to face a further ordeal in the form of heroic local fishwives, who, aided by their husbands, fought them hand to hand and threw them into the sea. They also hurled them from the windows of , houses in which they took refuge.