REBELS ADVANCING

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1938, Page 5

REBELS ADVANCING

RESISTANCE SNAPS Large Captures of Men [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received February 8, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 8. The correspondent of “The Times” at Bilbao says: "General Davilas troops have driven home the advantage which they had gained in the Teruel province. His troops are now overrunning the Palomera Range in all directions. The loyalist resistance has snapped. * Large groups of loyalists are surrendering to the insurgents. Franco’s Army REINFORCEMENTS CALLED UP. (Received February 8, 11.5 p.m.) BURGOS, February 8. Following on the recent enlistment of the men born in the first quarter of 1919, General Franco has now called to the colours the man born in the second and third quarters of that year. These men had not normally been due for military service until the year 1940. FRENCH FRONTIER INCIDENT. (Received February 8, 11.5 p.m.) PERPIGNAN, February 8. The Spanish Government has indemnified the family of Juanole with thirteen hundred Stirling for the frontier shooting on December 9th.

BRITISH SHIPS

Attacks in Mediterranean REMONSTRANCE WITH FRANCO.

LONDON, February 7. Mr Eden in the Commons, said that Sir R. Hodgson had been instructed to tell General Franco that British patience was exhausted, in face of the attacks on British shipping. Recent experience had shown the Nyon measures were insufficient, The Government was to inform the Spanish Government and Salamanca authorities that from now onwards, a submarine detected submerged in the zone in the western Mediterranean in which British ships operate, will be considered as contemplating an attack against merchant ships.

Mr Eden said that the British Government would not tolerate submarines being submerged in this zone. Orders were given that if a submarine submergeu, it shall be attacked. The Italian and French Governments had agreed on similar action in their areas.

There was every reason to believe that the Alcira was sunk by insurgent aircraft, he added. Representatiohs were being made. Replying to Mr Alexander, Mr Eden said he thought that the steps proposed were adequate. If he were mistaken, they would not exclude further action. Mr Eden added that the Government had come to the conclusion it could not continue to deal with these attacks solely by protests and claims for compensation. According to newspaper reports one of the survivors of the Endymion has since died. RUGBY, February 7.

Mr Eden, in a Commons statement on anti-piracy measures in the Mediterranean, said that besides informing the French and Italian Governments of the proposed British measures, the other parties to the Nyon Agreement have also been informed, as well as the Governments of the United States, Germany and Portugal. Dealing with the sinking of the British steamship, Alcira, Mr Eden added that full reports were awaited, but there was every reason to believe the attacking aircraft were in the service of General Franco. Sir H. Hodgson has accordingly been instructed to impress upon General Franco’s administration that the British Government reserved to itself the right, henceforth, to take such retaliatory action in the event of a recurrence of these attacks, as may be required. In answer to the question Mr Eden said while they had no definite information as to • the ports from which the pirate vessels carried on operations, there was reason to believe they were based at Majorca. The First Lord of the Admiralty told the Commons that three survivors of the Edymion had been interrogated by naval authorities at Gibraltar.- No submarine torpedo track or floating mine was seen from the bridge!. The depth of the water where the explosion occurred ruled out the possibility of it being caused by a moored mine. ■Mr Eden, in answer to a further question, said the Government had come to the conclusion that, the bombing of the Thorpeness at Valencia, which caused the death, or injury of several members of the creW had been deliberate, and he would ask for. full explanation from the Salamanca authorities.denying the mine, responsible for the damage to H.M.o. Hunter, had recently been laid by General Franco’s vessels. The British Government was not able to accept this contention, and was accordingly making further representations on the subject.

The German Belief

SPANISH GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE. FOR SINKING AND BOMBING SHIPS. (Received February 8, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 8. The statement made in the House of Commons regarding attacks on ships in the Mediterranean by the Foreign Secretary, Mr A. Eden, has aroused criticism in Germany, says “The Times” Berlin correspondent; The correspondent adds: Official German opinion holds that it is the Spanish Government which has been responsible for all of the sinkings and bombings of ships.