GRIP ON MADRID

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1936, Page 5

GRIP ON MADRID

TIGHTENED UP By the Insurgents (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received October 21 at 7.10 p.m.) LONDON. October 21. The rebels have further tightened their grip on Aladrid. An apparently inexhaustible stream of fresh troops is pouring into General Branco’s lines, these being in readiness for the making of final assaults.The rebels, meantime, continue to consolidate their positions.

The atmosphere is tense in Aladrid. Stirring appeals are being made to the Madrid populace to defend the city. Fighting still continues on the Oviedo front. Doth sides are claiming heavy casualties. Rebels are reported at Tlendaye to have shot a representative of the International Red Cross, and five passengers captured aboard the Spanish steamer Gelerna.

Madrid Foreign Minister CALLS TO DEFENDERS. TO DIE IN TRENCHES. (Received October 21. at 10.30 p.m.) MADRID. October 21. The Foreign AEniste r here, Senor Delvayo, has issued a manifesto, as follows:—“Tt is a question of hours. Each worker and each free man in .Madrid should know by now that it is better to die in the trenches than to save his life, as if only will be to die later in ignominy at the hands of a firing squad.” The Foreign Minister adds: “Defend Aladrid! Thot is the supreme slogan. Aladrid cannot be defended by words, o r by saying 'the day they come we w’ll show them how we can fight!’ But only on the battlefront by launching a victorious offensive.” MADRID ALLEGATIONS. AGAINST ITALY AND GERMANY. (Received October 21. 10.49 p.m.) LONDON, October 21. The Spanish Ambassador in London has communicated with the British Foreign Office. aVeging that there were new Italian and German violations of rhe non-'ntervontio,n pact, namely, that on October 15. an Italian ship landrld a large number of caterp’fla.r tanks and one hundred flame-throwers at Cadiz, r.vhich the insurgents hold; and also that, on October 17, a German destroyer unloaded anti-a’reraft guns nt Algccirru for insurgent forces. The Spanish Ambassador requests that tho| British Government should immediately bring the facts alleged to the notice of the London Committee.

NON-INTERVENTION QUESTION RUGBY, October 20. The Earl of Plymouth yesterday addressed a letter to the Italian, German and Portuguese representatives on the Non-Intervention Committee, with reference to allegations brought forward at last meeting of the Committee on October 9. that infractions of the agreement had occurred. Earl Plymouth’s letters express the hope that the observations of the three Governments will be received in time to enable the next meeting of the Committee to be held towards the end of this week.

Air Atlee, in a letter to the Prime Minister, refers to grave concern regarding the situation in Spain, and the steadily deepening anxiety caused by the progression of events. The letter proceeds: “Although the allegations are not yet definitely proved, there is strong ground for belief that the policy of non-intervention has been deliberately violated. Whilst it is true that the International Committee has now initiated an investigation into these allegations, we fear that delay, not wholly unavoiable, will enable the policy of non-intervention to be still further abused, to aid those who are in rebellion against the elected Government of Spain.’’ It is probable that the letter will be considered at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting at which the Prime Alinister will preside.