FIGHTING IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1936, Page 7

FIGHTING IN SPAIN

GOVT. CLAIMS VICTORY HEAVY CASUALTIES [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. COPYBIGHT. 1 MADRID, July 22. The Government has broadcast, in English, to the British Empire and the United States, a message saying that, the danger of a military dictatorship may be considered over. A Government, communique states: It. is estimated that live hundred have been killed and three thousand wounded in the fighting in Barcelona. A Communist newspaper, “Mundo Obrero,” says that 116 rebel officers and two hundred of other ranks were found dead when the Montana Barracks were captured in Madrid yesterday. The Spanish frontier guards at Hendaye have joined the rebels.

NAVAL OPERATIONS.

GIBRALTAR, July 22

The Spanish cruisers Cervantes and Liberata steamed into the bay late yesterday, and turned their searchlights on La Linea. It is believed they intend to demand the surrender of the rebels in La Linea and Algerciras within a limited time.

11.M.5. Shamrock, which has brought refugees from Malaga, reports, that the town is ablaze. The principal street, called the Larios, is partly destroyed. TANGIER, July 22.

The battleship Jaime Primeiro arrived here. She was immediately bombed by four aeroplanes. The ship was not hit. She replied with quickfiring guns. The British destroyer, Whitehall, shifted her berth hurriedly.

ISSUE NOT DECIDED.

(Recd. July 23, <8 a.m.). MADRID. July 22.

The threatened battle between the rebel and loyalist forces has not yet been joined. The Government claims to be patrolling the bulk of the MadridBurgos road. There are no signs of the enemy, but there seems to be no doubt that most or the country from the French frontier to Saragossa and Burgos is dominated by the rebels, whose morale is reported to be excellent. Heavy fighting occurred west of Barcelona. A decisive battle will probably take place in the Sierras, about (To miles north of Madrid. The situation in southern Spain is confused, both sides continuing to claim victory. Loyalist airmen are itching to bomb the rebels at Toledo and Segovia, but as they occupy historic buildings, which the Government does not wish to harm, efforts are being made to induce them to surrender. General Dellando has proclaimed a military dictatorship throughout Spain, in the name of Franco, and thereatens pitilessly to punish opponents. Madrid continues calm. Thirty-one planes bombed Caserne, forcing the leaders of the rebels to surrender.

AID FROM FRANCE?

PARIS. July 22

Speculation has been aroused by the arrival at Le Bourget drome, by air, of two Spanish air officials. They were armed with diplomatic passports. They are Commandant Calerta De La Quintana. Chief of the Spanish Civil Air Service, and Commandant Juan Y Avola.

Their plane took off from Bordeaux. LONDON, July 22.

The “News Chronicle” says the Spanish air officers who came to France were the bearers of a request from the Spanish Government for French assistance against the militarists in Morocco.

REBEL ROUT CLAIMED

(Received July 23, Noon). MADRID, July 22.

The Minister of the Interior, in a noon broadcast, claims that the rebels are in general rout throughout Spain, except at Saragossa, Valladolid, and Seville. Broadcasting from Seville, Dellano claimed that aeroplanes silenced three Government warships, which were bombarding Cadiz. A Gibraltar message states that the Governor, Sir Charles Harington, is returning to Gibraltar from England. The Spanish Fleet is short of fuel, and has urgently requested supplies from the British authorities at Gibraltar.

Lisbon refugees state that the entire province of Galicia is in the hands of the rebels.

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS]

RUGBY, July 22

The situation in Spain continues extremely tense, although conflicting reports state the actual position is still very obscure. British naval forces are engaged in aiding stranded nationals. H.M.S. Shamrock took off 25 British subjects and Americans from Malaga, which, although now quiet, suffered severely from the fire of a submarine. The flotilla-leader Douglas and three more destroyers left Malta foi Spanish waters, to-day, and other warships are in the neighbourhood of Spanish ports, where there are British visitors or residents. The- Spanish disorders were the subject of a Commons question, in reply to which Lord Cranborne said that owing to the stoppage of communications from most parts of Spain, it, was still very difficult to obtain reliable information regarding the position. He was able to give the House a list, of British warships which had proceeded or were proceeding to Spanish ports, with a view to the evacuation of British subjects, if necessary. These included H.M.S. Shamrock to Malaga, H.M.S. Keppel to Vigo, H.M.S. London and Douglas and three destroyers to Barcelona, H.M.S. Devonshire to Palma, H.M.S: Wren to Corunna, H.M.S. Amphion to Teneriffe, H.M.S. Keith to Valencia, H.M.S. Witch to Ferrol!, and H.M.S. ißoadicea to Alicante. British snbIjects had been embarked on British ships at Algeciras. At all other places from which reports had been [received from British Consular repre-

Isentatives, British subjects were reI ported to be safe-. I In addition to the ship movements mentioned by Lord Cranborne, it. is announced that British destroyers are proceeding to San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Gijon. The battleship Repulse will arrive at Gibraltar on Saturday, with the Gordon Highlanders. P. & O. LINER BOMBED. (Received July 23, 10 a.m.) GIBRALTAR, July 22. Rebel aeroplanes and loyal warships fought an engagement at Tangier, the result of which is not known. The P. and O. liner, Chitral, narrowly escaped shelling, for when being escorted to Gibraltar by a British destroyer, which was mistaken for a rebel ship, bombs fell forty feet, astern of the Chitral as she steamed out. from Tangier.

U.S.A. PRECAUTIONS

WASHINGTON, July 22.

The United States warships Oklahoma and Quincy have been ordered to Spanish waters in order to protect fifteen hundred American nationals who are in Spain, and to evacuate them from the country, if this is necessary. The State Department described the move as being purely precautionary. as hitherto all Americans had been reported to be safe.

REBELS’ NORTHERN ADVANCE

LEADER REPORTED KILLED

(Reed. July 23, 2 p.m.). LONDON, July 22

The Spanish Government and revolutionaries strive furiously for mastery by sea, land and air, while the civil war flames to its climax. The decisive battle is being still awaited. English, French and American warships are on the alert at various points in order to safeguard their nationals. Incidentally, Gibraltar came under fire, but no damage was done. Each of the adversaries still claims the ascendancy, General Queipo de Llano declaring a triumph for the national revolution is nearly accomplished, while the Government issues sanguine prophecies of success. It is, however, in a precarious situation in the north, the rebels having constituted a rival government at Pamplona, the capital of Navarre. Their leader, General Mola, desires to reduce Irun, San Sebastian and Barcelona by famine rather than assault. His forces, which are reported to number 40,000, are advancing in two columns, one of which came in contact with the Government troops on Buitrago heights, 36 miles north of Madrid. His ultimatum demanding the Government’s resignation has been followed by reports of his sudden death in action near Pamplona. His rearguard is threatened by 'Government troops in lorries crammed with armed men and women. The latter, wearing ttfmy boots and shirts, and armed with revolvers are blowing up bridges, and barricading roads to impede the advance of his soldiers, who are expected to rally on Burgos to await reinforcements. His death, if confirmed, must check the advance of his forces.

Beside the contact ,at Buitrago Heights, a rebel column is reported to be i naction with Government troops, fifteen miles from Madrid. This means that the y BATTLE FOR THE CAPITAL has actually begun. Mola’s troops are well trained, and equipped with motorised artillery, whereas the defending army of 165,000 includes many inexperienced civilians. The Government claims to have captured Guada La Jara, Toledo, Buitrago, La Granja and Almanza. Their forces are believed to be carrying out a strategic retreat from Navarre, which is predominantly pro-Fascist. Captain Mola, brother of the rebel commander, committed suicide at Barcelona.

Dellano reports that three Government warships, which were bombarding Cadiz, have been sunk by the rebels, but this is probably due to their departure for Puente Mayorga, between Algeciras and' La Linea. in search of fuel, which was denied them at Gibraltar. The Spanish tanker Ophir supplied the Government warships with oil fuel, but the Jamie Primeiro requires 1500 tons of coal, which cannot be obtained.

The correspondent of “The Times” at Tangier says that a wounded officer and four men landed from the Jamie Primeiro, which afterwards departed. They state that the crew killed all the other officers, and mastered the ship, which has joined the Government forces.

Fresh conflicts at Barcelona resulted in five hundred deaths, the new revolt breaking out after Government control seemed restored. Government aeroplanes bombed the aerodrome and destroyed eight, aeroplanes. Anarchy reigns in Northern Catalonia where Government extremists, armed with weapons captured from the rebels, are DESTROYING CHURCHES and public buildings. They control the entire province, except Soo De Urge!, whence their sympathisers were driven into Andorra by the rebels. “The Times’s" Barcelona correspondent telegraphing from Perpignan (France), describes his flight with the French refugees in motor cars and charabancs, running the gauntlet of ambushes and barricades. The fugitives learnt that Government forces shot the rebel leader. General Gay, who sentenced to death the Republican martyrs. Captains Galan and Hernandez in 1930. Forty chapels, churches and convents were burnt at. Vich before a concerted signal was launched. In the three days’ fighting al Barcelona, the Government troops were gradually victorious but though the rebel General Coded surrendered, and urged his followers to do so, they declined to yield, and stood up to further slaughter, before the Government, employing bombing aircraft and artillery, crushed their resistance. Government dispositions for the

DEFENCE OF MADRID,

on which the rebels are advancing from Pamplona and Saragossa in the north, and Cadiz and Algeciras in the south, include the formation of committees, controlling workers, distributed in the city suburbs. There -are fifteen hundred cars for patrols and two hundred in reserve, guarded by machine guns. Many girls accompany the patrols who are .quelling snipers' activities from roofs. Motor lorries left with several thou-

sand militia for Saragossa. Another loyal column is about to converge on Saragossa from Catalonia. The British Consul is inquiring irto the imprisonment in Madrid of the “Telegraph” correspondent, Rowlaud Winn, son of Lord St. Oswald. A fierce naval battle has been raging in the Straits of Gibraltar. The warships, aided by three Government aeroplanes, bombed and machinegunned rebel barracks at La Linea, which responded, several shells falling in Gibraltar harbour, and near the Devil’s Gap battery, causing British troops to man the guns on the upper rock. Refugees from Malaga and Marbella describe the situation as ghastly. The principal streets are completely burnt out. Three aeroplanes bombed San Roque barracks held by the rebels. Four submarines guard the harbour. A rebel airman mistaking them for Spanish supply ships, bombed the London tanker British Endeavour and bombed and machine-gunned the Liverpool steamer Mahratta. There were no casualties though steel fragments struck the tanker. A shell fired from a warship against rebel war planes exploded ashore near the Rock Hotel, causing a small landslide. Aircraft flew over the rock and turned back towards Ceuta, amid a hail of ?.h: apnel‘which exploded over the naval cinema and. Air Force headquartf rs.