THE SPANISH WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 13

THE SPANISH WAR

BOMBINGS OF BARCELONA DELIBERATE ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, November 29. In the report on the bombings of Barcelona, the commission for the investigation of air bombardments in Spain expresses the opinion that there would be loss of life and property whenever an attack on the port area was made from high altitudes at an angle to the coast. The report concludes: “In view of this, if such attacks on the port area are continued they must be regarded as tantamount to deliberate attacks on the civilian population as well.” PASSENGER TRAIN ATTACKED EIGHT PEOPLE KILLED. MADRID, November 30. Eight people were killed and 50 wounded, of whom 19 ore women and children, when a rebel warplane machine-gunned a - passenger train between Jaen and Alcaudete. MISTAKE ADMITTED BY NATIONALISTS SEIZURE OF WHEAT SHIPS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 30. (Received December 1, at 11 a.m.) In the House of Commons an answer to a private notice question on the wheat ships seized by General Franco gave rise to a demand for a discussion on the adjournment of the House, but the motion was ruled out of order by the Speaker. Asked what reply had been received by the British Consul at Palma and the British Agent at Burgos to the request for the release of the ships, Mr Chamberlain said Lord Halifax hoped shortly to receive reports. Mr Chamberlain denied that there had been any delay in demanding the release, and mentioned that certain other foreign ships with British cargoes had been held by the Spanish Nationalists and that representations had been made. In a discussion on the Speaker’s ruling against the adjournment motion, the Leader of the Opposition complained of Government dilatoriness in conducting matters of this nature, anti asked for some assurance that more was going to be done on this occasion. Mr Chamberlain was able to intervene in the discussion to announce that a report had just been received from Palma that, though the ships had’ not yet been released, the mistake was admitted and acknowledged. [An earlier message stated: The ‘ News Chronicle ’ says Lloyd’s sharply raising the war rates on Greek vessels in the Mediterranean owing to General Franco’s raiders seizing and taking to Minorca two grain ships proceeding from Greece to . Hamburg, a third bound from the Black Sea to Oslo, and a fourth from the Black Sea to the United Kingdom .'with Rumanian grain, was apparently part of the British Government’s “ diplomatic pnrchase.”] FURTHER NOTE TO BURGOS SATISFACTORY RESPONSE DEMANDED. LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 11.45 a.m.) Because no response has been received to the Note demanding the release of the Greek grain ships, Britain has despatched a further Note to Burgos demanding an immediate and satisfactory answer. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS PROSPECTS VERY FAVOURABLE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 30. (Received December 1, at noon.) It is stated in official quarters in London that the Spanish Government recently agreed to suspend on a reciprocal basis the execution of the death sentences passed on political and military prisoners. This proposal was also submitted to General Franco’s administration, but was not agreed to. In spite of this, the Spanish Government decided unilaterally to suspend execution of such sentences until December 1. A report has been received in London from the British Commission for the exchange of prisoners in Spain that the prospects for completion of negotiations for large-scale exchanges of prisoners are very favourable provided no further executions take place meantime on either side.