SPANISH WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 12

SPANISH WAR

REPELS REACH COAST. [BY CABLE PRESS ASSN. COPYRIGHT, j LONDON, April 16. The Mendaye correspondent of “The Times” states that the Spanish rebels have reached the Mediterranean at Alcanar and Benicarlo, cutting, off Barcelona, and taking possession of 15 miles of sea coast. A rebel radio station in a. broadcast repeatedly urged the' Madrid garrison to surrender and enter the rebel lines. AERIAL CONFLICTS. | I MADRID, April 16. I General Miaja announces that the Prime Minister (Senor Negrin) has empowered him to assume full control of Spain, after the cutting of the Republican territory. A message from Barcelona says that a series of air battles is raging round Cineroj. The largest clash occurred when three squadrons' of Government bombers accompanied' by 40 fighters, attacked insurgent destroyers and troopships, escorted by a big fleet of aeroplanes, which were attempting to land troops and supplies from Balearic Islands. At least four aeroplanes were seen to crash into the sea. Meanwhile the rival air fleets are fighting over the insurgents’ new positions on the coast.

The Loyalists have recaptured Benicarlo. RESPECTIVE SUCCESSES. (Received April 18, 11.30 a.m.) AIADRID, April 11. Republicans north of Lerida Province attacked a sector of Roverroguera, and occupied two hills north of Balaguer. A Salamanca message states, that Franco’s forces rectified the lines in the Vinaroj sector, captured important positions, and progressed beyond the village of Casas Elmar. STREAAI OF REFUGEES. (Recd. April 18, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 17. The “Telegraph’s” Aragon correspondent. says: An additional endless j stream of civilian refugees and wound-: ed soldiers is being sledged by- stretch-1 er over the icy Pyrenees pashes. As- 1 turian dynamiteros are allegedly has-) tening the departure of the refugees! by shooting as Fascist sympathisers I those refusing to leave their homes. ■ The 31st Loyalist division’s recent retreat to France, allegedly led An- ( tonio Bethan, the new commander of j 1200 troops, to turn a machine gun oh I 300 who dqsired to go to France.