SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Evening Star, Issue 22816, 26 November 1937, Page 11

SPANISH CIVIL WAR

FIERCE GUERRILLA FIGHTING ASTURIAN MINERS INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 24. An official Barcelona communication says that Republican squadrons heavily bombed troop concentrations on the Aragon River, north of Tudela and Jaca, in retaliation for raids on the unprotected towns of Bujaraloz, Bonicarlo, and Alcaniz. An insurgent broadcast alleges that the planes flew over French territory eu route, in complicity with the French Popular Front Government. The Republican Cabinet lias ordered the mobilisation of all unemployed between the ages of 18 and 50. Fierce guerrilla warfare is being waged by bands of Asturian miners organised ou a military formation with a base in the mountains between Oviedo and Gijon. Daily clashes are disorganising insurgent movements, inflicting heavy losses. The Asturians have sworn not to cease resistance while a single miner is able to hold a rifle. Republican batteries bombarded westward and southward of Madrid, where troops were massing. The insurgents retaliated and shelled populous work-ing-class suburbs. MADRID HEAVILY SHELLED MADRID, November 25. Rebel guns, including nine inchers, systematically raked the city, starting from the north and gradually working southward. WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS GOVERNMENT’S REPLY AWAITED. LONDON, November 24. The Barcelona correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the Government has not yet decided its attitude towards the withdrawal of volunteers. It is surmised that it is not disposed to consider the proposal for the withdrawal of volunteers from all parts of the world at their own free .will. It contends that they should be on a par with troops drafted to fight under their own officers and flag .among the insurgents against legally constituted authority. DAMAGE TO H.M.S. HUNTER INSURGENTS HELD RESPONSIBLE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 24. In answer to a question in the House of Commons, Mr Anthony Eden said that no British ships were at present held by the Salamanca authorities. The cost of the damage to the warship Hunter, for which Britain holds the insurgent authorities responsible, will be in the region of £124,000. A capital sum of about £105,000 will also be required for compensation for the dependents of the men killed or injured in the explosion. FRANCO'S LONDON AGENTS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 25. (Received November 26, at noon.) The British Government has accepted the appointment of the Duke of Alba as General Franco’s chief agent in London.

FURIOUS BOMBING DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE CITY MADRID, November 25. (Received November 26,. at 11 a.m.) General Franco’s long-awaited onslaught in a final effort to capture the city is believed to have begun with furious overnight shelling, which was the most intense since the beginning of the war. It was obviously a desperate attempt to shake the Republican troops’ positions and to break the morale of the remaining civilians there. No exact reports of the casualties are available, but it is believed that hundreds were killed and wounded. There would have been greater havoc bub for the fact that the people were mostly in their homes when the bombardment began, and they took refuge in the cellars. The damage to property is reported to be enormous. Whole streets were ruined. A Government communique says: The city’s batteries replied to the rebel bombardment. The Republicans anticipated the blowing up of a rebel mine in University City, and fired a countermine, wrecking a wing of the building. Insurgent advance parties were repulsed in the western outskirts, and in the southern sector. Barcelona reports heavy air raiding and the bombing of rebei towns as a reprisal. GUADALAJARA BOMBED HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. MADRID, November 25. (Received Novembc- 26, at 1 p.m.) The insurgents ruthlessly bombed Guadalajara, causing great destruction of buildings and loss of civilian life. The Italians are reported to be massing at Guadalajara to avenge their rout last March.