CIVIL WAR’S GRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1936, Page 5

CIVIL WAR’S GRIP

SPANISH DISORDER REBELS IN CONTROL OF MOROCCO (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, July 20. , Behind the obscurity induced by the censorship and contradictory ieports, the tact emerges that Spain w by no means free of the grip of civil war, despite the activities of civilians now: fully armed in support of the Government. The military rebels fully control the Spanish Zone of Morocco, though loin Government warsnips and destroyers, whose crews placed their officers under arrest, bombarded Ceuta throughout the day. The Government assertion that tlio Navy is entirely loyal is discounted by the rebels having crossed to Spain from Morocco aboard a destroyer given them by naval officers. A Government assertion that tlio Navy is entirely loyal is discounted by the' rebels having crossed to Spain from Morocco aboard a destroyer given them by naval officers. The rebels, though repulsed in Madrid under General Viola, completely dominate Spanish Morocco. Government' admis’sibris’show that the provinces : hitherto ’deemed immune from invasion or'-*insurrection, have been plunged’’i'iito tlifc general whirlpool. J The civil Government'' in the Asturias,. dttUtihe'Nbrtii,- lia4 'yielded to tliorebels, who are also fiercely resisting attacks by Government aircraft at Segovia, in North Central Spam. Jaca, regarded as the cradle of the Republic, where an abortive revolt ol Leftists began in 1932, is in the mutineers’ hands.

Many British tourist agencies, on the advice of the British Foreign Office, have cancelled projected Spanish tours until the position clears up, but some intending travellers are going to Spain undaunted by the situation. The authorities in Spain refuse to allow any Spanish refugees to leavo the country, unless they are holding foreign passports. That the Spanish Government is now fighting for its life, is indicated by its ordering the mobilisation of all loyalists under age of thirty years The Ministry of the Interior claims a crushing of the movement in Catalonia. General Godel lias surrendered unconditionally at Barcelona. He was mainly responsible for the fall of tlio dictatorship in Spain,' under De Rivera. Listeners last night heard Godel broadcast advice to the Barcelona rebels, to follow his example and surrender. CASUALTIES IN BARCELONA GENEVA, July 21. Spanish refugees arriving here affirm that between two and three thousand have been killed or wounded in the fighting in the city of Barcelona. Many churches there were ablaze. The fiercest of the fighting had occurred in the Place De Cataluna, where the carcasses of a dozen mules, which had been used to haul machine guns, remained yesterday morning. The refugees state that the 1 Government palaces were bombed by the rebels. The refugees also state the streets were spattered with blood. There wa v a huge shell hole in front of the Hotel Colon. Tramway wires were hanging down. Newspaper stands were wrecked. Churches and buildings were destroyed or damaged. REBELS ENCIRCLING MADRID. LONDON July 21. The eorfbspoiident' of' the “Daly 'Mail” at'Tolo i sa , 'says;—' ; ’ A fbrmuUl&Ve* for'ce of‘rebel infantry is! reported" to' lie' n6w; encircling Madrid wliOrb' the greatest 'alarm prevails. A battle, which rnfiy'decide fue destiny of Spain, is expected to start hourly. The parade grounds of the principal barracks are littered with dead and dying, as the result of to-day’s fighting 'in Madrid, which established a temporary supremacy lor the Government. Cities that still are in the hands of the insurgents are Malaga, which is partly aflame; Salamanca, Santander, Seville, Cordoba, Saragossa and Valladolid. The issue hangs in the balance at Valencia and at Bilboa. Both sides are savagely contending for Barcelona., the Manchester of' Spain. Government aeroplanes have been bombing the city of Barcelona. They set fire to a church and a barracks. The Governor of Cadiz, aided by Civil Guards, maintains a resistance against the rebels. ; , The “Daily Telegraph's” Al.endaye correspondent says that tire garrison at Pamplona is marching to Madrid with heavy artillery. BRITISH NATIONALS. LONDON. July 21. The British destroyer Shamrock is speeding from Gibraltar to Malaga in order to rescue two hundred British subjects. The cruisers Cairo and Orion are ready to sail from Plymouth. An augmented force of British troops, with fixed bayonets, guards the gates of Gibraltar and the Spanish frontier. . • The British Embassy at Madrid has been notified to' open a shelter for the lhltish colony in Madrid.