CLOSING IN ON BILBAO.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 April 1937, Page 5

CLOSING IN ON BILBAO.

IMPORTANT REBEL ADVANCE. 15 MILES IN 24 HOURS. (By Telegraph—'Press Assn.—Copyright) Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, April 25. The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Times’ correspondents on the Bilbao front describe the success attending the rebel attack launched on the Bilbao front. The third Cavarre brigade took Udala mountain, giving the attackers command of the whole of the Aramayona valley. General Mola’s troops delivering a double attack from the front .and rear aided by artillery and aerial barrages smashed the main line of the Basques’ eastern defences and now threaten Marquina. The rebels are now 33 miles from Bilbao on the outskirts of Durango on which one column is advancing while another is striking north-eastward from El Orrio towards Marquina in order to cut off the Basque retreat. The rebels are definitely closing in, having advanced 15 miles in 2A hours to Bilbao. The rebels tvere able to penetrate the Aramayona valley, seize El Orrio and -capture 1000 prisoners and large quantities of war material. Saturday’s advance was on a 15mile front between Ondragon and Vergara among the highest east--ern peaks, compelling the occupants of the supposedly impregnable trenches crowning the Basques’ entire eastern line to abandon them' without fighting in order to avoid being cut off. The rebels are now able to continue down hill until faced with .a strong line of artificial fortifications 12 miles from Bilbao.

3VIAY FIRE ON BRITISH WARSHIPS REBELS’ FOOLISH THREAT Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. GIBRALTAR, April 26. General De Llano broadcasting from Seville threatened that insurgent warships may fire on British warships if they persist in protecting shipping entering Bilbao. General De Llano also announced that the Canarias had forced the loyalist cruiser Jamie Primero aground on the south coast. IRBBEL GOVERNMENT’S PROTEST TO BRITAIN •SALAMANCA, April 25. General Franco’s Government is -strongly protesting to Britain regarding alleged assistance by British warships to blockade The Junta considers that the action of R.M.S. Hood •■“in favour of breaking the blockade is xi flagrant breach of the most elementary principles of mutual respect between nations.”

THURSTON AND STESSO ARRIVE AT BILBAO Received Monday, 9 p.m. BILBAO, April 25. The Thurston and the Stesso arrived without incident. It is understood that British destroy--ers protected them in extraterritorial waters, notifying the rebel cruiser AJ■snirante Cervera that they had a perfect ought to a free passage.

POOD FOR SANTANDER Received Monday, 10 p.m. SANTANDER, April 25. The British food steamer Oakgrove Arrived after a British destroyer had xeminded the rebel cruiser Espaua of freedom for navigation on the high .seas. The British foodship Jenny, 1859 dons, arrived at Santander without incident from Antwerp: A Valencia communique states that ■jan Italian destroyer stopped a British ■oil tanker off Barcelona. Government ’planes flew out whereupon the destroyer withdrew but later again'stopped the tanker and again withdrew when the ""planes re-appeared. The tanker then proceeded to Barcelona.

ITALIAN INFANTRY A MENACE. NO SPANISH GENERAL WILL TRUST THEM. (Received Tins Bay, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, April 26. ‘ The Italian Fascist infantry, who died from Guaralajara, are a potential ■menace to peace in the insurgent territory, according to the Sketch’s special correspondent at Valladolid. No Spanish General will trust them in the line since the defeat of ten to twenty thousand, who are caiatoned over the countryside with no occupation. Nobody is taking any interest in them, which is most destructive to the morale. Any little incident, for example, a quarrel between a drunken soldier and a civilian, might start terrible trouble, for the Italians have rifles, bayonets and ammunition ready to hand. The chief, impression over hundreds of miles of insurgent Spain, through which the correspondent travelled, is cleanliness and orderliness. The roads are heavily patrolled, but the atmo-

sphere is strangely peaceful, x seasan^s working peacefully in the fields. - INTERFERENCE WITH STEAMERS.: PROTEST FROM BRITAIN. (Received This Bay, 10 a'.m.) LONDON, April 26. The British Government has instructed their Ambassador to send a protest to General Franco regarding insurgent warships interference with the steamers McGregor, Hamsterley and Stanbrooke on April 23rd. FOOD SHIP ARRIVES. (Received This Bay, 10 a.m.) BILBAO, April 26. The British food ship Sheaf Garth has arrived.