IRUN IN RUINS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1936, Page 7

IRUN IN RUINS

REBELS ADVANCE ON MADRID

GOVT. CLAIMS VICTORY [by CABLE PEERS ASSN. COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, September 4. Over the streets of Irun, littered with dead, to-night, hangs a pall of smoke bearing evidence of the burning of more than half the town. It is estimated that 2000 were killed in a savage four hours of fighting, preceding the rebels’ victory. Half naked Moors ranged the streets, slashing and shooting. not leaving a living being as they advanced behind a barrage of hand grenades. The wounded were ruthlessly knifed or shot. Undoubtedly the wild retreat to French territory avert ed much more merciless killing in Irun. The main gateway from France to Spain is now in rebel hands, but their prize has turned to ashes, the town being a mass of blazing and smoking ruins. The resistance of the Government forces has died slowly, flickering out. only to burst out again elsewhere with the energy of despair. One of the most desperate resistances was maintained by 10 French, one Belgian and one German machinegunners, who fought to the end. At least 20 Frenchmen fighting against the rebels were killed. As the rebels swept on, there was a frantic rush of refugees across the bridge to France. Refugees are now wandering aimlessly about Hendaye, many being accommodated in camps outside the town. Hundreds are being distributed in surrounding towns. Refugees are compelled to surrender their weapons at Hendaye. A hospital was established in the square to care for the wounded. Many of the refugees left for Barcelona by special train, and will soon be fighting again on other fronts. The Government forces late to-night abandoned the defence of the international bridgehead and retreated to Fort Guadalupe. A later message says that San Sebastian is the rebels’ next objective. Artillery is already being brought up and the Government lines are under fire. Refugees are leaving for the sea. Madrid’s only official reference to Irun is: "Fighting continues at San Sebastian.” It asserts that lhe fall of Irun is not decisive and is only an incident in the struggle.

LOYALIST SUCCESS

LONDON. September 5

The special Hendaye correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says that Irun, which 24 hours ago was a town of 12,000 inhabitants, is now' a heap of blazing ruins. Not a house remains standing. Anarchists are still holding out amidst the flames.

A later message states that the victory of the rebels at Talavera was only temporary. They have now been forced to retire along the whole of the 12 miles front, which was due to the strategy of the insurgent General Castejon, who ordered a retreat on the pretence that his troops were demoralised. The loyalists quitted- their positions and charged the retreating column, only to be ambushed between two other columns, who fired on both flanks General Yagues, rebel commander, said: “We killed everyone defending the town. lam sorry for poor General Riquelme, the Government leader, for falling into a trap like an inexperienced child.” This exultation turned out to be premature, a Government, airman later reporting that the loyalists had completely recovered the lost ground. Strong batteries of artillery and seven triple-engined bombers flanked by chaser aeroplanes supported the Government attack, which was driven gallantly home by Colonel Asensio and Colonel Burillo ’of the Shock Guard. Many prisoners were taken. Senor Azana arrived at Talavera after the victory and was enthusiastically greeted. The rebels hau hoped to break the Government line screening the road to Madrid, also to relieve the starving occupants of Toledo and Alcazar.

-The loyalists, under Senor Buenaventira Durruti and Major Perez Farms, on the Saragossa front, numbering 10,000. are now within sight of the citv, on which an attack is being launched after the arrival of 25,000 reinforcements from Catalonia. The rebels are doing their utmost to hamper their advance and claim to have inflicted ,a reverse, killing 300 near Pamplona. The Government attack on Majorca has admittedly failed after the loss of prisoners, arms and munitions. The remainder will be sent to Aragon to support the attack on Saragossa. Majorca was Gallipoli on a small scale. An official communique dealing with the withdrawal says that a heroic Catalan column withdrew, and after a magnificent action embarked scathless owing to Captain Bayoa’s admirable strategy in accordance with the orders of the Republican Government which did not consult the Catalonian Government. The landing was largely a Catalonian idea to which Madrid was opposed, the Cabinet declaring, “Majorca can wait.” The rebels captured the seaside village of Fuentarrabia after a two-hours’ battle, the garrison fleeing in boats to France under fire. ' Several were wounded.

It is announced that the insurgents have ordered the crucifix to replace the President’s portrait in all public buildings and schools. Wireless reports state that the battleship Espana sank a* Government torpero boat at Bilbao.

ADVANCE ON SAN SEBASTIAN

(Received September 7, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 6.

The insurgents, warily advancing towards San Sebastian, under a. desultory fire from Fort Guadalupe, opened an attack on the port of Pasajes, ten miles from their objective. The port of Pasajes is defended by two forts, namely, Pasajes De San Pedro, and Tr’ncherpe. General Mola’s artillery is responding to the fire from the forts, while the roads from Bidasoa River are crammed with his transport.

A loyalist torpedo-boat attacked the rebel battle-cruiser Espana, whose guns threaten San Sebastian. The torpedo-boat, after firing, fled to sea, the cruiser pursuing her. Six thousand refugees have been evacuated from Hendaye to Turhes, Bayonne, and adjacent French towns. PANIC AT SAN SEBASTIAN. (Received September 7, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 6. San Sebastian is a tragic contrast to the gay city of ten days ago. The shops are closed, and food and water

I are rationed. Tho population are ter-j I rified at the prospect of incendiarism' and massacre. Women held a. mass meeting and pleaded with the Popular Front leaders to surrender, .in which the Basque Nationalists and Socialists supported them, but the anarchists and Communists, aware| that they would be shot out of hand, if the Lown were captured, determined. to resist to the last, man, and leave only ruins behind. Confusion reigns, accentuated by the knowledge that the rebel vanguard is only four miles away.

Though Irun is still burning, families are filtering back to search among tho charred ruins of their homes. The invaders of Irun spared the churches. Armoured cars thundered down the main street and annihilated the few remaining machine gunners, who were holding out. to the last. General Boerlegui, commanding lhe victorious troops, was shot, in the ieg, but restored order, when his soldiers began looting the wine shops. He then retired for medical attention at Vera. His losses are estimated at five hundred killed and wounded. TRAIN BLOWN UP. (Received September 7, 11 a.m.) LONDON, September 6. Militia from Malaga, led by a 19-year-old youth, Francisco Vallodres, mined a bridge and blew up a train carrying insurgents reinforcements to Granada, killing many. The remainder were finished off with hand grenades. Vallordres was severely wounded and died in hospital. The Government forces are preparing to blow up tho Alcazar al. Toledo, mining under the foundations. They will use. enough high explosives to complete the job in one blast. The Government has invited the 1200 besieged citizens to surrender, promising to spare their lives if they come out unarmed. Dellano (rebel), in a broadcast, says the next attack will be on Bilbao, where he expects little resistance. Ships will bombard Santander. NEW CABINET’S POLICY.

LONDON, September 5

The new Spanish Cabinet is credited with determination to take firmer, measures in the prosecution of the war. Senor Caballero, Spain’s most powerful Labour leader, has spent time in the militia since the war broke out, and is therefore conversant with the army’s needs. The Prime Minister lias issued a. dilating 'that his foreign policy is friendliness with all countries and adherence to the League of Nations. The Cabinet has appointed Senor Pablo De Azcarate, Deputy-Secretary-General of the League, as Ambassador in London.

“HUMANISATION” RE.I ECTED

MADRID, September 5.

The Government has rejected the “humanisation” proposals, on the ground' of its preoccupation with suppressing the rebels.

THE POPE’S APPEAL.

ROME, September 5.

The Pope, addressing members of the Franciscan Order, called prayers “for the flagrant evils’and discord of Spain, where brothers kill brothers, and where they slaughter souls in the midst of so many' sacrileges and such horrible destruction of everything that is most human.”

MUSSOLINI'S DECISION

LONDON, September 5.

The Romo correspondent of the “News-Chronicle” says that only the advice of the Italian Ambasadors in London and Berlin persuaded Signor Mussolini lo “hold his hand” with the official ultimatum he intended to send to Barcelona following the shooting of an Italian subject. Signor Mussolini had informed the Ambassadors of the terms of the proposed ultimatum, and asked them to ascertain the probable British and German reactions. Both Signor Grand! and Signor Attolico replied that such a step would have disastrous consequences, and it would be better to await Barcleona’s reply to the Italian protest. It was afterwards officially announced that the Italian forces would remain in a “state of alarm,” but no warship other than the Pola would for the moment be sent to Spanish waters.

APPEAL TO FRANCE

-PARIS, September 5.

“Aeroplanes for Spain” was the repeated cry from an assembly of 30,000 Parisians who gathered to hear the “Passion Flower’s” appeal to help Spain. “We are defending liberty and peace. Give us guns and aeroplanes for our struggle,” she asked. Fifty thousand participated in another demonstration in Paris, carrying banners urging support for Spain.

BRUSSELS, September 6

La Passionaria and two Spanish politicians attended the Peace Congress closing the festival at Heysel Stadium. Fifteen thousand were present and released thousands of balloons, carrying peace messages to adjacent countries. FRENCI I N El IT R AL IT Y. (Recd. September 7,2 p.m.) PARIS, September 6. M. Blum, who is firmly resisting the Leftists’ clamour for intervention in Spain, told a mass meeting of thousands ho was aware that the maintenance of the Spanish Republic guaranteed France the security of her southern frontiers ,and her North African but the non-in,ter-vention agreement, which bore among others Russia's signature, must not’ho repudiated. He would never tolerate inciting a conflict nor admit war was inevitable, despite Left Wing attacks on his policy. GERMAN REPRESENTATIVE. BERLIN, September 5. Count Bismarck, German Charge d’Affaires in London, will represent Germany in London on the committee supervising the application of the non-intervention agreement to the Spanish civil war. BRITISH LABOUR. LONDON, September 5. A joint meeting of the National Executive of the Labour Party, the executive of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the Trades Union Congress at Plymouth, telegraphed to the Foreign /Secretary, expressing grave concern at the delay in bringing a

} non-intervention agreement effective ' ly into force. TRAFALGAR SQUARE COLLECT’N (Rec. September 7,2 p.m.) LONDON, September 6. I Money for Spanish workers rained upon the speakers in Trafalgar Square when .fifteen thousand demonstrated sympathy and support for the National Council of Labour’s Spanish fund. Hundreds of pounds in notes passed from hand to hand to the collectors on the plinth of the monument. An anonymous donor gave a cheque for £5O. Five pound notes were frequent. £6OO was collected before the silver and copper were carried off in bags. A procession of ten thousand marched past the Italian Embassy, which was heavily guarded by police, shouting, “Stop helping the Spanish Fascists.”

AMBASSADOR RESIGNS.

WASHINGTON, September 5.

The Spanish Ambassador, Senor Luis Calderon, who has been in the Spanish diplomatic service for 32 years and who thus far during the rebellion has been loyal to the Republican regime, announced his resignation to-day, explaining that he was unable to co-operate with the newly instituted Caballero Government.

LONDON APPOINTMENTS.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY,; September 5. It is officially announced that Don Pablo do Azcarate has been appointed Spanish Ambassador in London. The new Ambasasdor is the Spanish deputy-secretary-general of the League oi! Nations.