WAR IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1936, Page 7

WAR IN SPAIN

GOVT. VICTORY IN SIGHT?

IMPORTANT CENTRES TAKEN

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

MADRID, July 25. The Government, at 9.30 p.m., an-

nounced that the rebellion was now dominated, and claimed that the rebels wore fleeting from Cordova after executing civilian supporters of the Government. The rebels still hold Saragossa, although they have sent out an urgent appeal for help. Government reinforcements are marching to Sara-

gossa. from Barcelona, which is returning to normality. Correspondents accompanying the Government forces report that the troops are driving the rebels northward and are now within sight of Aranda, with the enemy in full retreat. Government troops also

defeated the rebels at Burgos and Logrono. capturing hundreds. A Government column is operating from Avila against Segovia, which is

menaced from two directions. Moreover, Government troops are advancing on Vittoria. Aircraft bombed the rebels’ aerodrome at Hubesca. The Government ■ claims' that there have

been many desertions from the rebels. The enemy, in fleeing, abandoned artillery. machine-guns, rifles, and ammunition.

Flying Officer Domingo Perez, who deserted from the rebels, says he took off from Melilla with Lieutenant Castro. ostensibly to bomb Granada and other Government towns. When over the Mediterranean they fought for a revolver which he secured, and then threw out Castro. Perez declares that the situation of the Moroccan rebels is desperate. The men obey the officers only because they are terrorised. Two contingents of Moors are reported to have crossed the straits in unlighted ships, under cover of darkness, and to have landed at Algeciras and Linea. They are advancing to Malaga. Aeroplanes are trying to hamper their movements, and boml> ed Algeciras and Ceuta. The Government has announced that

the rebels have surrendered at Albacete and claims to have brought down two rebel aeroplanes. Another has deserted. SAFETY OF MADRID LONDON. July 25. An official communique claims that the Government success in the Guadamarra Range, north of Madrid, has sufficiently disorganised General Mola’s advancing columns to render the capital temporarily safe from a siege. Nevertheless, Madrid is the centre of a ring of revolt. The main force of tlie rebels has not yet engaged in a full-strength combat with Government troops, who, though lacking artillery, possess aeroplanes. The loyalists claim to have driven back the head of General Mola’s first column and paralysed the leading sections of the second with

bombing aeroplanes. They have advanced to Boceguilla and are now on the road to Burgos, after securing Somosierra Navacerrada, and the Peunte and De Leon Passes. The rebels still assert that they are closing in on Madrid.

General Mola has issued a manifesto

declaring that the insurrectionaries hold four-fifths of Spain. They have constituted a provisional Government at Burgos, under the presidency of General San Miguel Caballellas. General Mola declares that he can attack Madrid with 60.000 troops immediately contact is established with the troops advancing from the southwards. The "Daily Mail” correspondent allots the rival forces as follows: —The insurgents have troops from the Morocco. Seville, and Cadiz garrisons; from Pamplona, Burgos, Lerida, Vittoria, and Valladolid, and irregulars from Navarre, Spanish Basques, and Fascist militia units, while the Government has certain ships, mostly without officers, the red militia, a few regulars, no artillery, and only a volunteer air force.

Barcelona, though the violence has ended, is a shambles. Three thousand were killed and eight thousand were wounded. A British chauffeur and a S.nanish clerk at the American Embassy were killed on July 22, while attempting to rescue the manager of the Ford Motor Company. British refugees who have arrived in Marseilles from Barcelona say that the authorities issued 60,000 rifles to the loyal populace, and everyone began firing at everyone else. Government troops pressed rifles and

bayonets and 200 rounds of ammunition upon three British subjects and forced them to fire on the rebels from barricades. Only the defective tactics of the rebels saved-the Britons’ lives. The west of Central Spain is still a rebel stronghold.

SHELLS AT GIBRALTAR

GIBRALTAR. July 25

While Spanish warships were shelling shiploads of Moorish troops landing near Linea and Algeciras, three shells fell on the southern end of Gibraltar. The Spanish firing endangered ships using the straits. Accordingly the British destroyer Beagle, went out to patrol. The British, fearing an epidemic, have ordered 7000 Spanish refugees to evacuate camps near the frontier. Spectators on Europa Point watch-, ed a spectacular warship versus forts duel and simultaneously watched aeroplanes bomb Algeciras. The warships bombarding Ceuta were troubled by poor visibility. The forts, though similarly affected, replied, and damaged the bows of the Jaime Primerio. Crowds watched a Government, aeroplane, hit by anti-aircraft fire, crash into the sea.

APPEALS TO FRANCE

LONDON. July 25

The diplomatic correspondent of, (he "Daily Telegraph” says the rival forces in Spain are both appealing to foreign countries for support. The Spanish' Government has already addressed several appeals for aid to France. The Foreign Minister (M. Delbos) and the entire staff of the Quai d'Orsay are irrevocably opposed to any intervention. It is believed that the Prime Minister (M. Leon Blum) will be persuaded to resist the demands from the French Communist elements for support for Spain. Meanwhile, the rebels are appealing to Rome and Berlin where, it is understood, emissaries have been dispatched. The Paris correspondent of the “NewsChronicle” says four aeroplanes, part of a Spanish order for military machines, have left France for Barcelona. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Manchester -Guardian” says a pessimistic view is taken in London of events in Spain. It is considered that everything points to a protracted, and

]sanguinary civil war. The insurgents have the advantage of outside help. Large numbers of Italian and German agents have arrived in Morocco and the Balearic Isles, and are participating in military activities. They are also assuring the rebels that they are supported by the great Fascist Powers, which is a big encouragement to morale. Many of the rebels’ weapons

are of Italian origin. Germany is concentrating on the Balearic Isles, where she hopes to secure concessions in view of the strategic importance of the Mediterranean. The French Cabinet is reported to have discussed the question of furnishing arms and munitions to thia Spanish Government. Deputies who are usually" well informed regarding the Government’s policy, appear assured that the Government is not prepared to intervene in Spain by authorising the supply of war materials. The “News-Chronicle,” in an editorial, says: “It should be clear that in one more country, freedom has been monstrously challenged by would-be despots who are prepared to enlist the Moors to enslave their own brothers. The Spanish Government is not a Red rabble, but a moderate Government of the Left Centre pledged to

overdue reforms.” The French Government has ordered Senor Gil Robles, the Spanish Catholic leader, also the Spanish millionaire. Senor Juan March, whom the Madrid Government accuses of financing the revolt, to leave Bayonne, where they had taken refuge. It is understood that they proceeded somewhere north of the Loire river. France has also expelled To Spain the insurgent Spanish agitators. Rodriguez and Anseiach who are accused of printing inflammatory pamphlets at, Biarritz for aerial distribution in Spain. A Lisbon wireless message states that Italy has strongly protested to the Spanish Government against the burning of the Italian Consulate at Barcelona.

MORE GOVERNMENT SUCCESSES. (Recd. July 27, 11 a.m.) LONDON, July 26. A sign of the Spanish Government’s confidence that the situation at Madrid and the neighbourhood is well in hand, is the announcement that the Socialist militia will no longer be used as police, the regular police resuming duties. Government forces captured Caspe, a hundred miles eastward of Saragossa, which the air squadrons are heavily bombing.

It is reported that the loyal submarines captured a rebel warship near Palma.

The Government asserts that, only three important centres, Saragossa, Seville and Oviedo, are now in rebel hands, but it is reported from France I hat the rebels are massing in the lar north in an attempt to capture the frontier town of Iron and prevent-the loyalists importing arms. Thousands of well-armed Asturians surround' Oviedo. They issued an ultimatum to the rebels to surrender within 24 hours or they will be attacked. Refugees from Malaga arrived at Gibraltar in the British destroyer. They state that they saw a hundred priests, Fascists and others shot down, chiefly by children, between fourteen and seventeen years of age, wearing red shirts and carrying pistols, rifles, axes and truncheons.

BRITISH AND AMERICANS WASHINGTON. July 25. The State Department’s principal concern over the Spanish civil war to-day centred on the safety of the Embassy at Madrid, where 161 Americans, including 148 citizens, are seeking refuge, beleaguered and with scanty supplies of food. Evacuation by aeroplane was considered, but it was decided that it was temporarily impracticable, as was an attempt to move overland to some port. Food supplies may last a fortnight, but meanwhile officials fear that heavy fighting will reach the capital. The evacuation of nationals from coastal points is progressing favourably. With the aid of British ships,'several Americans were evacuated from San Sebastian, Barcelona, Malaga, and other Spanish points late in the evening.

Mr. C. G. Bowers, the American Ambassador, established direct telephonic communication with the State Department from San Sebastian and reported his personal safety, although be said he was unable to cross the French border. A file of regular dispatches said that stray bullets hit the hotel where the American chancellory is quartered, but there were no casualties.

The arrival of the Oklahoma at Bilbao was reported by Mr. Bowers. Americans wishing to leave had already been evacuated by a British ship, which he could not identify. However, the Oklahoma removed 16 and was going to Santander. The American coastguard cutter Cayuga had also arrived at Bilbao. The Quincy will probably go to Malaga. The State Department feels the British can adequately cope with the situation near Gibraltar. All evacuations necessary at Barcelona have apparently been effected.

STORIES OF HORROR.

MARSEILLES, July 25.

Refugees from Spain are relating terrible stories of carnage and horror. Mrs. Ruby Beach, a cousin of the author, Rex Beach, who landed from an American steamer, said that during the fighting the women continually incited the men to exterminate their opponents and not take prisoners. She added that she saw the rebels burn a church, kill the priest, sever his arms and legs and hang his body from a st :i I tie of the Virgin. French newspapers say guerilla warfare continues in the San Sebastian region. “L’lntransigeant” says an English woman refugee arrived at Saint Jeandeluz from San Sebastian. She became insane after seeing her 12-year-old son shot because he refused to say whether Fascists were hiding in an hotel.

MADRID’S FOOD SUPPLIES

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, .July 25

There is conflicting news about the battle for Madrid, which is believed to be developing between the Spanish Government forces and the revolutionary forces. Reliable news from the Spanish capital indicated that although the situation there yesterday was quiet, with no shortage of food, despite the absence of railway and road communication, there seemed to be danger of further looting and similar excesses.

Part of the women and children from the British community in Madrid have been given accommodation at the British Embassy, and a request has been made to the authorities that adequate protection should be given

to the British colony and its possessions.

At Barcelona the situation is still tense, although there are signs that the Spanish Government authorities are now asserting control over the unruly elements, who have been responsible for much burning of property and looting, and who quartered themselves in many leading hotels and clubs. British women and children and some Americans were aboard British ships, although the wives of many British residents decided to stay with their husbands. Food supplies are available, although prices have greatly increased. Some newspapers re-appeared for the first time yesterday. At Gibraltar, the battle cruiser, Repulse arrived this morning, bringing back to stations the Second Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, who recently moved to Egypt. The destroyers Verity and Veteran, which reached San Sebastian yesterday, enabled about 300 people to be evacuated. A destroyer is proceeding to Malaga to take off a further contingent of British subjects, and British and Americans were taken from Tarragona yesterday by the destroyer Garland. Other British naval vessels are actively engaged at various ports, among them the destroyer, Wishart, which reached Gigon, the flotilla leader, Keith, which is standing by at. Valencia, and the Shamrock, which is at Seville.

Few foreigners appear to have boon injured in the disturbances, the only fatal ease reported being that of the wife of the Norwegian consul at San Sebastian, who was mortally wounded when opening a window. An English student there, also' received a bullet wound.

(See alco Page 8,)