TOLEDO BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1936, Page 5

TOLEDO BATTLE

ORDEAL FOR REBELS They Regain Military Headquarters (Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, September 20. Fire brigade hoses poured streams of petrol over the occupied parts of the Alcazar, in Toledo, where previously Hie Government attackers had, after making a nine weeks’ siege, exploded a mine at this rebel stronghold. T)ie death roll as a result of the devastating explos'on probably will never be known. It must be considerable. The occupants of the forties* are believed to have totalled between 1200 and 1400. They were given repealed chances to surrender or to send out the women and children, but the only reply from the commander was “We will die together.” Tcrrillic explosions shook the whole city, windows being shattered. Alasonrv, rilles, machine-guns, and mutilated bodies were thrown up from the fortress, and a. cloud of dusc and smoke rose in the sky as the debris rattled down on the tragic scene. Incredible though it seemed, the survivors of the shattered Alcazar, held out ami forced the Government t'roops to retire in the face of withering rifle and machine-gun fire.

After the petrol was hosed over those parts of the Alcazar that were occupied, bombs ignited rheuf. Huge sheets of flame enshrouded the former headquarters of the Military Governor, which a strong force of rebels recaptured. Government forces vainly tried to expel them, being driv en back by enormous clouds of thick, choking smoke, from the burning petrol.

One rebel, braving a hail of bullets, rushed out. grabbed a hose from a fireman's hand, turned the stream of petrol on the. Government supporters, and held the hose while they poured bullets into him, till he fell dead. Then a party of insurgents made a. desperate sortie in i’he teeth of a heavy fusilade. Many were killed ami wounded before, the remainder retired. TOLEDO TRUCE URGED. LONDON, September 20. The Diplomatic Corps in Aladrid is trying to obta'n an armistice, to save ihe women and children. The Chilean Ambassador suggests that a 24-hours’ armistice will save the lives of 900 women and children. ANOTHER ATTACK. ON THE ALCAZAR DEFENDERS. (Received September 21, al’ 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. News from Spain is that the Government forces have launched a further savage onslaught at Toledo, showering the Alcazar with shells, bombs -and hand grenades, but they have failed to dislodge the defenders. RELIEF OF TOLEDO. ATTEAII'T L>LOCKED. (Received Scpi’einber 21. at 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. Reports from Spain state General Yagues’s right wing forces, consisting of Aloors and. Legionaries, are endeavouring to drive a wedge so as to separate the Government forces which are occupying the main road from Talavera- to Aladrid, in the hope of marching to i’he relief of the rebels who are defending the Toledo Alcazar, but that lie is making little progress as against a, dogged resistance on the part of u superior loyalist army. Planes Fail TO DROP FOOD TO THE ALCAZAR. (Received September 21. at 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. Three insurgent 'planes Hew over i’he Alcazar and they endeavoured to drop food there, but they were driven o If. The pilots of the 'planes have reported that the defenders in the Alcazar are likely to hold out until they are relieved. GOVERNMENT CRUISERS SUNK. LONDON, Sept'ember 20. A broadcast from Cadiz claims that the cruisers Almirante C'ervera and Espana engaged the Libertad and another Government cruiser, trying to raise the blockade on Bilbao and Gijon, and stink them both. RED CROSS CONVENTION. PARIS, September 18. The humanising influence of the Red Cross is being iniToducod by the agreement of both sides in Spain, which have undertaken to respect the Geneva Red Cross Convention and agree to a rec procal basis of evacuation of women aud children. REFUGEES’ FUND. RUGBY, September 20. A letter .signed by the Archbishops of Caui’erburv and York, the Archbishop of Westminster, and others, appeals for funds for British refugees from Spain, many of whom reached Eng.-land entirely destitute. Harrowing examples ate cited of men and women who have spent most of their lives in Spain, and built up prosperous businesses or professional connec-ions, and who have had to leave behind ’’vervthing. down i’o the smallest personal effects. A committee has been formed to organise help for tho refugees. eritons LEAVE BILBOA. RUGBY. September 18. A message from St. Jean de Luz states that all British subjects who desired to leave Bilbao have now been evacuated. They were Taken either tlup'c or to Bordeaux. Tho British Consul* at Bilbao and the Consulate staff arrived at St. Jean de Luz this afternoon on board. ILM.S. Exmouth. Seventy British subjer-ts have preferred To lemain in Bilbao for business reasons. Bilbao is reported, though calm, to be in hourly expectation of an insurgent alia ek.