MARCH ON MADRID

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1936, Page 5

MARCH ON MADRID

A LOYALIST DEFEAT Last Stronghold Falls (Aus. & N-Z. Cable Assn.) SEVILLE, October 1° General Franco claims that the last Government, stronghold at Navalearnero, on the Talavera-Madrid road, has been captured. The insurgents are now twenty-five miles from Madrid, and it is expected that they will be at the gates of the city in forty-eight hours. A message frpm Madrid states that General Caballero has assumed command of the loyalists. Aided by aeroplanes, tanks, and arti.’lery, the robe's are contmu.ng their advance towards Aladrid. The loyalists are falling back on a thirtyfive mile front, coveting their retreat by blowing up roads and bridges. Deterni-'.ned charges by Moorish cavalry are a big factor in the rebels’ successes. General Alola’s forces are. now menacing Escoria 1 , the royal palace near the capital 1 . Messages from Aladrid state tlial Aladrid io a city of grim silence, broken by occas’onal outbursts ol gunfire by sentries who jump a' shadows.

The poVoe visit hou-es at night investigating and identifv ng the occupants. The number of pol't'eal prmon ers is still increasing, and it is reported that there have been two thousand arrests in four days. Moat. sugar, and butter are scarce. Despite the rebels’ advance, the Governor declares -that the city can be successfully, defended.

Rebel Shelling VISIBLE AT CAPITAL. EXODUS OF CHILDREN. (Received October 18, 7.30 p.m.) MADRID, October 17. Assisted by good railway and road com mu bleat.ions. the insurgents are pressing their attack on Aladrid from the north-west. The noise of the insurgent cannonade can be heard in Aladrid, whence also the smoke of their shells is visible. The (government claims to have brought dbwn three .rebel bombers. It also claims to have beaten off their attack at some points. Aleanwhi'cj. thousands of ch'ldren are. being- evacuated from Aladrid, and also from the neighbouring districts, to Valencia. RUSSIAN AID FOR MADRID. MESSAGE FROM STALIN. MOSCOW, October 15. M. Josef Stalin has sent the following message) to the Spanish Communist Party: “The toilers of the Soviet are only fulfilling their duty by giving every assistance to the masses of Spain. ’ ’ FOUR SYDNEY NURSES GOING. (Received October 18. at G. 30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 18. Four young Sydney nurses leave for Spain on October 24th, to place their services at the disposal of the Spanish Government. They are the first such unit to leave Australia. They have volunteered to go to the fr< nt, where they are to jo’n a British Red Cross unit. Their trip is'being sponsored by a Spanish Relief Committee in Sydney. NON-INTERVENTION PACT DELAYED. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY. October IG. Major Attlee ca'/ed on the Foreign Secrotary (Air R A. Eden) to express the concern of the Labour Party a* the slow operation of the agreement rclgnrding non-’nterventi’on in Spain and to emphasise the importance of the t>me factor. Air Eden sa>d ho hoped it w n uld b n possible to hold a meeting of the International Committee next week to cona’der the replies of the three Governments.