REBELS RUN BLOCKADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1936, Page 7

REBELS RUN BLOCKADE

LARGE FORCE LANDED

PLANES BEAT OFF WARSHIPS

[BY CABLE —PEESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. August 7. 11 a.m.) LONDON, August 6. The rebels succeeded in breaking the sea. blockade and landed at Aigeciras 3000 regulars, Foreign Legionaries, Riffs, machine guns, 200 field guns, thousands of hand grenades, and motor lorries, in five ships, cam-

ouflaged to evade detection, and protected by a strong force of aeroplanes which heavily bombed the Govern-

ment warships trying to intercept them, and compelled the ships to retreat. Rebels state they will bring a further 3000 across during the weekend, and will then have 10,000 at Algeciras to advance on Malaga. The Government claims to have captured Buitrago, the keypoint of the Somosierra front, taking 1500

prisoners, five guns, and 30 machine guns. It also reports the surrender at. Sastago of 2000 rebels marching

from Pamplona to Saragossa. They were immediately incorporated with tlie Government army. General Mola claims that the rebels routed the Government forces at Somosierra, killing five hundred. He also claims a victory at Avila where

he killed GOO, and captured two tanks. General Queipodellano, the rebel loader at Seville, is reported to have threatened to wipe Malaga off the face of the earth, if his mother and wife whom he left there are murdered by the- Government.

PLANES SINK GUNBOAT. (Received August. 7, Noon). LONDON, August G. It is reported from Tangier that rebel air bombers sank the Government gunboat which was damaged by a submarine in yesterday’s battle in the Straits. It is reported from Casablanca. that three Government, warships to-day, engaged rebel aircraft convoying troopships across the Straits. Franco who has decided to bring more troops from Morocco by air has fifteen large aeroplanes at Tetuan ready for this service and hopes thus to land a thousand troops in Spain daily.

AERIAL DEVASTATION

(Received August 7, 2.30 p.m.) MADRID, August 6.

If the claims of leaders of both sides can be accepted, Spain is threatened with merciless aerial warfare. The Government expects shortly to have three hundred machines, and threatens to devastate the Peninsula from one end to the other, unless the insurgents surrender. General Franco also claims to have a strong air force with which he plans to annihilate the Government’s Fleet. A rebel spokesman at Burgos expressed the opinion that when the civil war is finished, the total casualties will almost equal those of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.

The Prime Minister, .interviewed at Madrid, by a correspondent of “Intransigeant” stated that the Government intended to respect persons’ property after the victory. He added that the Communists were absolutely on the side of the law, though the anarchists were a source of trouble.

Franco is reported to have agreed to become a dictator if the rebels are victorious.

SHOOTING OF GERMANS

BERLIN August 6.

The Government vigorously protested to the Spanish Government igainst the shooting of four members >f the German Labour front at Barcelona on July 24. They started out in a lorry for the French frontier but were held up. They were given a

brief trial, by a so-called Marxist revolutionary tribunal and shot. All possessed valid German passports.

BRITISH REFUGEES.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS]

RUGBY, August 6

A list of British, American and foreign Nationals, numbering about 200. evacuated from Spain by British destroyers between July 30 and August 3, has been issued by the Foreign Office. It can now be said that the great majority of British subjects, who wish to leave Spain, have been evacuated. There are still many hundreds, who, for private or business reasons, prefer to stay on, at their own risk, but in view of the present unsettled conditions, and the impossibility of maintaining indefinitely the facilities for the removal of those who wish to leave, the British Consular authorities in Spain are making every effort to get into touch with all remaining British Nationals, and are advising those not detained by imperative reasons to take full advantage of the present opportunities. The Postmaster-General announced that air-mail services to Barcelona and Gibraltar have been suspended. Press messages reaching London from Madrid and other areas under the control of -the Government forces, show a marked' increase in confidence, and claim considerable successes, both in the South and in the North against the insurgents. Directly contradictory reports, however, come from sources connected with the rebel armies, and the true position remains obscure.

ENGLISHWOMEN’S BEREAVEMENT

LONDON, August 6.

Mrs. Diana Avail, daughter of Rear-Admiral Claude Cumberlege, whose husband was shot in the disturbances near Toledo, has reached London with other refugees. ‘“When the troubles started we left my husband’s farm and stayed with friends at Talavera,” she said. “A week later a gang hammered at the door at 3 o’clock in the morning and asked our host, his son, and my husband to go into the garden. We waited in agony and heard three shots three minutes later. Then I knew that my husband was dead. Two poachers whom my husband once caught stealing told the mob he was a fascist; that was his death warrant Next morning armed youths threatened us from behind the garden trees A maidservant went to the Town Hali and clandestinely impressed our papers with the Government stamps, enabling us to go to Valencia, where we boarded the Devonshire. Everything we had is destroyed or stolen. My father leached his yacht in time to escape>

the rabble or he would also have been shot.”

RUSSIA AND NON-INTERVENTION.

LONDON, August 6

A Moscow message says that the Soviet has intimated to France that, she shares the principle of non-inter-ference in the internal affairs of Spain, and is ready to participate in the proposed agreement, but she dedesired Portugal to join in. The Soviet also asks “that the assistance rendered by certain States to the rebels be immediately discontinued.”

GERMAN CONDITIONS.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, August 6.

In regard to the proposals made by the French Government for non-inter-vention by other Powers in Spain, Germany agreed in principle, with the following suggestion: That Portugal should also join the agreement. Replies from Italy and Portugal, which are hoped and believed to be favour-; able, are expected shortly. The French representations in Rome and Lisbon are being supported by Britain.

ITALY’S ACCEPTANCE

(Recd. August 7, 2.30 p.m.). ROME, August 6.

Mussolini has accepted in principle the French proposals regarding the Spanish neutrality agreement. It is believed that Count Ciano will inform Ambassador Chambrun of the acceptance. Mussolini attached conditions demanding the cessation of the enrolment of volunteers, public subscriptions, demonstrations, and Press campaigns that favour either side, and desires information whether the nonintervention pledge would apply to all countries, and whether it binds both private individuals, and Government. Italy also asks whether France proposes any method of controlling the application of the principles of nonintervention in Spain.