MADRID COMMUNISTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1939, Page 7

MADRID COMMUNISTS

REVOLT A FAILURE LEADERS TO BE SHOT [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. March 9, 8 a.m.). . LONDON, March 8. An official message from Madrid states that the army chiefs leading the revolt have surrendered, and that the Defence Council has ordered the troops concerned in the revolt to return to their posts. . . The Communists are reported to have erected barriers on the main road to Cuenca, holding up munition lorries going to Madrid. They seized artillery from a vital defence position. Colonel Casado has listed GO Communist leaders, to be shot. The Negrinites say that the Cabinet fled when it learnt that Colonel Casado planned a court-martial, to execute Negrin, Delvayo, and others, on a charge of betraying Spain to the Communists.

General Franco’s spies during the night hourly advised him of the position in Madrid. General Franco had ready, tanks and artillery, to attack if the Communists overcame the Casado party, against whom five battalions of Communists were reported to be holding out. After being silent since last night, the Madrid wireless station, this morning, announced the suppression of the Cartagena revolt, including the Negrinites’ attempt to seize the arsenal.

BARRICADES STORMED MADRID, March 8. At the height of the revolt, a pitched battle occurred at Calle de Alcala. Three divisions from Guadalajara were rushed up in lorries, at dawn, and pierced the Communist barricades, forcing their surrender. These Communists included companies from the Jarama front, who left the lines to come to Madrid and help their comrades. ATTACKED BY TANKS. (Received March 9, 11.15 a.m.) MADRID, Match 8,..; The revolting battalion was .forced to surrender, after a tank attack, bn the Madrid racecourse. Planes machine-gunned and bombed the Communists, behind street barricades, while field-guns shelled buildings where other , groups were sheltering. ■ ■

WHITE FLAG HOISTED (Recd.,.MarcAA H a.m.). LISBON, March 8. A broadcast from Madrid stated that the Communists have hoisted the white flag. The revolt is over, with the exception of Ciudadreal. SUMMARY EXECUTIONS. LONDON, March 8.. “The Times’s” Hendaye cprrespondent states that both military and civil leaders are implicated' in the revolt against the Defence Council. All those caught. ..are, , .beipg summarily executed The Communist Centre’s newspapers throughout the Republican area are being closed down. Many arrests have been made. Reports of disorders in the provinces persist, despite reassuring messages sent to General Miaja, from the provincial capitals. CITY REPORTED CALM. (Recd. March 9,2 p.m.). MADRID, March 8. Reinforcements of troops from the front have been distributed throughout the city. The spokesman for the Defence Council reports that the city is calm, as troops continue to occupy the Communist positions.

REPUBLICAN PORTS CLOSED BURGOS, March 8. The Admiralty forbids ships of any nationality to enter the harbours between Adra and Sagunto, comprising the whole of the Republican coast. Submarines have been ordered to sink any vessels attempting to enter the ports.

THREE DESTROYERS SUNK LONDON. March 8. The Bizerta correspondent of “The Times” reports that a member of the crew of the Republican cruiser Miguel de Cervantes said that Nationalist aircraft heavily bombed the Republican Fleet when they left Cartagena, on Friday last, sinking three of the destroyers, whose crews perished, as the other ships were unable to render any assistance. Dr. Gayda. writing in the “Giornale d’ltalia,” says: Italy will not tolerate the Republican fleet’s presence at Bizerta (a port in the French territory of Tunisia) for long', as its presence there constitutes a danger to Sicily.

AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN LONDON, March 8. Britain has agreed to „the Duke of Alba being the Spanish. Nationalist Ambassador in London.,

RELIEF OF REFUGEES. PARIS, March 8. The Chamber of Deputies .. Finance Committee has agreed to open a credit of £900,000, for the relief of'Spanish refugees, of whom there are 441,000 in France, comprising 220,000 soldiers, 10,000 wounded,,4o,-000...,'male'civilians, and 171,000 women, children. and aged people. M. Bonnet stated that the United States had agreed to admit only 252 refugees yearly. .South American countries would admit only Catholics and Basques, as farmers. Britain would take some' when private organisations were ready. was raising difficulties. The Soviet was unwilling to receive any, but was aiding financially. FOOD-SHIP SEIZED. PARIS, March 8. A Franco food-ship, bound for Valencia. was seized, and taken to Barcelona.