THRUST AT MADRID

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1936, Page 5

THRUST AT MADRID

UP TAGUS VALLEY Clever Insurgent Victory (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SEVUILLE, October 18. An insurgent broadcast states; Fascist volunteers and foreign legionaries entered Oviedo, relieved the defenders. completely raised the siege, routed the Government forces and caught the Asturian miners between two tires, causing enormous losses. The insurgents also lust heavily, having to cross bar bed-wire entanglements. When they reached Oviedo, they found only 30U defenders left. Only 20 of the 70 officers of the original garrison were alive.

Before they retreated Government troops blew up a huge dump of dynamite, but failed to cheek the insurgents’ advance. It is stated that in the three months’ /siege, the Government forces’ dead total 5000. (Received October 19. at 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. The “Daily Mail’s” special correspondent, cabling from Toledo, in the Madrid area, says: The insurgents made a. surprise thrust from Toledo, by which they have hammered' a gap ’n the outer defences of Madrid. 'This thrust was one of the strategical victories of the campaign. General Varela suddenly swung the main weight of his blows at the capital from the Talavera-Madrid Road. Forces of Legionaries and of Moors surrounded, and captured' Oliasdelrey, while a cavalry division attacked the Government forces on the River Tagus. They poured over flat country to points commanding both the Algodor and C-astillego rail junctions, which are eighteen miles from Toledo. General Varela, to-day resumed the advance, capturing Iliescus, which i s twenty-four miles from Madrid. The* loyalists have been abandoning their positions so swiftly that. it would appear that they are tired of fighting, but fhey have halted Torrijon. which is seventeen miles from Madrid. There they are digging in.

Triumph Over Numbers

SUPERIOR INSURGENT TACTICS. (Received October 19. at 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. “The Times’s” Aladrid correspondent says: “The insurgents have made an advance in the Tagus A'alley. It was a triumph of superior equipment, manouuviringf organisation,, and leadership over the numbers of the Government forces. The Aloors exploited Terrain, that is similar to the Aloroccan mountains. They were assisted by cavalry, tanks and aeroplanes. Repeatedly the insurgents outflanked the town-bred militia, who are inexperienced in cross-country matching mid lighting.

South American Republics

EFFORT JTO SAVE MADRID PEOPLE. AT THEIR. LEGATIONS. (Received October 19. at 8.45 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES. October 18. The diplomats have disclosed to-day that a secret, conference was held here yesterday, at which the Government of Argentina began conversations with a view to the organisation of fourteen of the South and Central American republics, in a united effort to save the hundreds of Spanish citizens who have taken refuge, at their Embassies and Legations in Aladrid. The principle of diplomatic asylum has been part of the Latin American international law since the year 1889, hiv it has not been recognised in Europe. , „ Under that principle, the refugee shares the immunity of the Ambassador. or the Alinister. whose agent escorts h’m to the frontier wi'h the full knowledge of the authorities from whom he may be fleeing.