MADRID FIGHTING

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1937, Page 9

MADRID FIGHTING

FOREIGN FORCES Government to Invoke League BRITISH BLOCKADE-RUNNER. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, August 5. The "Telegraph’s” Santander correspondent says: Disregarding the warnings from a British destroyer about what she insisted was a “nonexistent danger,” the Newcastle steamer, “Hilmfren,” entered Santander the first British vessel to arrive for 34 days, with a cargo of foodstuffs. She was warmly welcomed. BODIES IN LAKE. MADRID, August 5. The Government has decided to drain a lake in Casa de Campo, which was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting, and is believed to contain over 500 bodies. GOVERNMENT ENVOY. PREDICTS VICTORY. VALENCIA, August 5. “Spain will demand at the next meeting of the League, that the covenant be applied against aggressors,” declared Senor Delvayb, when interviewed by Dominion journalists. He described the recent fighting west of Madrid as the greatest operation in the civil war. He added: We are no longer fighting Franco. We are fighting between 80,000 and 100,000 Italians, and possibly 10,000 German technicians. The presence of the Italo-Germans produced a patriotic reaction among Franco’s troops. Officers who have come over to us said: “We started the military rebellion, because we disagreed with your politics, but when Franco was made an Italo-German instrument, we joined you. Shoot us if you like.” Dalvayo reiterated that mediation was impossible. The Government troops would fight to the bitter end. “We are certain of victory,” he said. Vatican’s Attitude -TO SALAMANCA GOVERNMENT. ROME, August 5. The official Vatican spokesman, with reference to reports of the Vatican recognition of Franco’s Government, said it was true that the Vatican approved the choice of Don Churruca .as. Francois .representative at the Holy See. It was also true the Pope sent to Nationalist Spain Monsignor Antoniutti, who has been instructed to attend to Church interests in the territory occupied by Franco’s troops, but neither of these representatives has been granted diplomatic immunity, automatically resulting from normal diplomatic relations. It might be said there is recognition de facto not de jure by the Vatican, of the Salamanca Government.

DIPLOMATIC VIEW. ROME, August 5. Diplomatic circles, closely in contact with the Vatican, believe the distinction made by the Church as to de facto recognition of the Salamanca Government, is to avoid antagonising Valencia, and thereby protecting Catholics under Valencia’s authority.