PEACE FOR SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1939, Page 7

PEACE FOR SPAIN

GOVT. ARMY CHIEF’S APPEAL

WAR BENEFITING FOREIGNERS [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. January 21, 8 a.m.) BARCELONA, January 20. General Rojo, Chief of the Republican Staff, in a nation-wide broadcast, emphasised that Spaniards were commonly inspired with the desire to supersede the ancient., corrupt regime by something better to redeem the country, yet they were killing one another mainly for the benefit of foreigners, who would profit from Spain’s enfeeblement. The time for strife had ceased. He was not appealing for magnanimity or pardon, becau.se liberty must triumph in the end. The war -would continue, in spite of the victory of one side or the other, till the truth was recognised. Spain must he Independent. He begged for a little understanding and patriotism to end Spain’s Calvary.

REBEL PRESSURE.

LONDON, January . 20.

The fiercest -Rattle is waging a,t Tgualada, the Nationalist final stepping stone to Barcelona, 30 miles away. Franco is hammering at the gates, and war-planes are bombing the population. A' general advance penetrated a further six miles in the heart of Catalonia, forcing' back the Republicans to the “Iron Belt” encircling the capital, wherein the general mobilisation resulting in all men going to the front threatens to cripple the philanthropic work. Twelve Britons are helping to administer the Quaker relief organisation, feeding 6000 children. All civilians are in a critical position owing to the food shortage.

KEY POSITION TAKEN.

(Received January 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 20.

The Burgos correspondent of “The Times” says that after capturing twenty-seven villages and fifteen hundred prisoners yesterday, Franco, today, secured Galaf, the centre of the first line of the loyalist defence key region, surrounded by Manresa, Igualada and Cervera. The rebels are advancing on all these sectors.

COMMONS NOT SUMMONED.

(Received January 21, 11 a.m.) LONDON, January 20.

Mr. Chamberlain refused Mr. Attlee’s second request to summon Pariament.

BRITISH FOOD SUPPLIES. (Received January 21, 11.30 a.m.) GENEVA, January 20. Mr. Butler announced that Britain, through the Red Cross and similai’ organisations, would distribute food and other supplies to two million Spanish refugees. .She was not asking other Governments represented on the League Council to co-operate.