NAVAL BLOCKADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1939, Page 7

NAVAL BLOCKADE

IMPOSED BY FRANCO “SINK AT SIGHT” POLICY [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. March 10, 11.30 a.m.) BURGOS, March 9. General Franco is holding the Republicans in the iron grip of the naval blockade. The first twelve hours passed without incident, as General Franco’s submarines cruised over a wide radius from Cartagena, prepared to sink at sight any ship trying to penetrate the three-mile limit. BRITAIN NOT NOTFIED.

LONDON, March 9. Britain has not been notified officially of General Franco’s blockade. Official quarters express the opinion that the recognition of General Franco does not bestow belligerent rights, or the right of blockade. Sinking on sight, without, warning, would amount to piracy. Although it is most likely that Britain will recognise General Franco’s blockade as legal, it is understood that the Government at present has no intention of protesting, but is content to await developments. Meanwhile, British shipping will be discouraged from attempting to run the blockade, though outwardly they will be assured of full protection on the high seas, as heretofore. LORD HALIFAX’S WARNING (Recd. March 10, 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 9. Alluding, in the course of a debate in the Lords, to General Franco’s blockade order, Lord Halifax said: “I wish to make it plain, that if action outside territorial waters is taken, Britain will be obliged to resist such action, in the same manner as Britain has done in the past.” Lord Halifax, referring to the assurances regarding the withdrawal of foreign troops from Spain, said that he believed these would be honoured. “I say quite clearly that, if the contrary is the case, a very serious situation would arise.” FOOD-SHIP RUNS BLOCKADE LONDON. March 9. Despite a warning from a British warship, the food-ship Stangate ian the blockade, and reached Valencia, from which she notified the Spanish relief headquarters in London.

FIGHTING IN MADRID. MADRID. March 9. Fighting is going on extensively throughout the city. Communist snipers from the roof-tops are keeping the civil population indoors. It is reported that Communist frontline battalions have been ordered to march on General Miaja’s forces. The Communists have cut communications between Madrid and Valencia, to which groups of Communists are making their way. The Defence Council’s troops and tanks are guarding Valencia, where many arrests have been made. DEFENCE'‘COUNCIL’S BROADCAST LONDON. March 9. A Madrid broadcast says: Having exhausted all means of persuasion, the Defence Council was obliged in the last few hours, to use all arms and aircraft against the rebels. The Council trusts that citizens will not allow themselves to be impressed by the rebellion. Calm will be restored in a few hours. Firing is audible, in the city and suburbs

LOYALISTS REINFORCED. (Recd. March 10, noon.) PARIS, March 9. Telephone communication with Madrid is cut off. Broadcasts indicate that General Miaja has closed all the exits. The Lovalists have benu reinforced, as the result of an urgent, wireless appeal, and are marching on the Communists’ front lines, which are being heavily bombed from the air. The rebels are holding out at Atoch Station and' the Hotel National. Nineteen rebel leaders in Valencia have been shot. A Lisbon message states that broadcasts from Madrid report the surrender of two Communist companies. in the Barajos sector. The Loyalists are advancing victoriously.

REVOLT CRUSHED? (Recd. March 10, 1 p.m.). MADRID, March 9. A Defence Council broadcast, this evening, stated that the revolt had been crushed, and that all the provinces were supporting the Council. An entire army corps, normally in the Levant zone, but used on various fronts according to necessity, is now marching to Madrid. Twenty-four of General Franco’s aeroplanes flew over the city, this afternoon.

HEADQUARTERS SURRENDER. (Recd. March 10, 2.45 p.m.) MADRID. March 9. A radio message announces that 1400 rebels were taken prisoner, when the headquarters surrendered to-night. Only a few groups remain in revolt, and the number is decreasing hourly. ANOTHER RISING REPORTED [independent cable service.] BURGOS, March 9. IL is reported that a rising has broken out at Murcia, Guadalajara, and Almeria, and that it has obtained a firm hold.

OFFENSIVE EXPECTED. BURGOS. March 9. The Nationalists have occupied certain Republican positions on the Madrid front. It is believed that the chaos in the capital can only be ended by a Nationalist, offensive, which is not likely to he long delayed. The newspapers declare that. General Franco has no intention of entering peace negotiations with General Miaja. A message from Hendaye states

that the Nationalists have closed the frontier to France. This is beheved to be the prelude to an offensiv . WORK FOR REFUGEES. RUGBY, March 8. A report by Major-General Sir John Kennedy, who is ~ camps and hospitals in theJ^ liee as a. personal representative of Sir Arthur Stanley, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Re Cross Society, has been brought to the notice of the British Government, n! a Xie paid to the work done bv France and the Red Cioss Soci , Sir John Kennedy emphasises the need for beds, blankets and linen, as well as for more hospital accommodation, in view of the increasing number of refugees and the serious congestion. He is of the opinion that the best immediate help would be to dispatch a fully-equipped British hospital ship.

FLEET TO BE HANDED OVER. PARIS, March 9. A Nationalist broadcast from Burgos stated that the Republican warships at Bizerta will be handed oyer to the Nationalists, in accordance with international law. ALFONSO AS “SIMPLE SOLDIER." PARTS. March 9. Ex-King Alfonso is reported to have said: “I wish to be regarded as a simple soldier, under General Franco, toi the reconstruction and re-awakening of Spain.” “LA PASIONARIA.” PARIS, March 9. The Republican leader. Dolores /Ibarruii (“La Pasionaria”) arrived this morning. The Government immediately notified her that she would not be allowed to stay in Paris, nor in the Seine Department. Colonel Lister was similarly notified.

DE RIVERA’S SON FREED. PARIS, March 9. A message from Valencia states that the Republicans have freed from prison. Miguel Primo De Rivera, son of the former Spanish Dictator, who is now aboard a British destroyer.