BATTLE FOR MADRID

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1936, Page 5

BATTLE FOR MADRID

FIERCE FIGHTING

CAPTURE NOT YET CONFIRMED.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, November 8.

The Government forces captured the Algodor railway station near Toledo, threatening the rebels’ communications, with Hendaye. The Basques resumed the offensive against the rebels at San Sebastian which four Government aeroplanes. bombed. They- are advancing rapidly, owing to. the rebels’ concentration on Madrid.

General Dellano, broadcasting from Seville, said, the Civil Guards at Madrid had revolted and demanded the ■ surrender of the city.

■General Dellano says: “It is tragic for Senor Caballero (cue Prime Minis, ter) to persist with the idea that he is strong enough to defend the capital. The insurgents overhear hourly radio appeals for; everyone »o enrol in defence of the capital, and they send aeroplanes to bomb it-he Volunteers where, they are concentrating.” Senor Caballero is reported to have told a friend,. “I will stop them yet; .but I will shoot myself if they break in. In no circumstances will I abandon Madrid alive.’*

Earlier messages: In response to a dramatic eleventh hour appeal to Madrid by Britain and France; suggesting that the Madrid authorities should come to terms with General Franco, the rebel leader, in order to save the civil population of the capital, the Spanish Government telephoned to tne Spanish Elmbassy in London declaring that Madrid was not falling. Every man was at his post, and the authorities were optimistic regarding the fate of the capital. The Government claims that the besieging forces number 10,000, of whom 8000 are Moors.

Yesterday’s artillery bombardment was directed against the suburbs only, hut the insurgents have now gun emplacements at Alcorcon, eight miles south-west of the capital, and they are lodging shells in Madrid itself. , 1 Lonies packed with men and munitions. are streaming from the capital to strengthen the defenders’ front line. Not a single house is intact at Getafe, where the corpses of militiamen are strewn about the streets, Escorial is completely encircled by the loyalists, who claim successes on the Asturias suburbs of Madrid and the din of battle is clearly heard in the capital, which is crowded with tens of thousands of refugees who are fleeing from the battlefrorit. •/ The rebels, who have penetrated to the Casa de Campo, a big park inside the city, found all the houses deserted and flying white flags. The British Embassy has arranged for the protection of 200 British subjects who are still in the capital.

APPEAL TO MADRID DENIED. RUGBY, November 6.

There is no truth in the reports by two English newspapers that a joint appeal was made last ’night to the Madrid Government requesting that some arrangement, should he reached with General Franco. > The statements that the Foreign Secretary (Mr R, A. Eden) was in telephonic communication on* the subject with Paris and with the British Charge d’Affaires in Madrid are unfounded.

CAPTURE OF MADRID QUERIED

NO CONFIRMATORY REPORT

(Received this, day at 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, November 8. ■There is no news from any source to the effect that Madrid has fallen.

LIBERIAN UNREST

EUROPEAN POWERS BLAMED

(United Press Association— *ly Electro Telegraph—Copyright;

NEW YORK, November 7. Mr. . Walter Walker, the Liberian Consul at New York, has declared that there are European interests attempting to. foster disorders in Liberia which, after the Ethiopian conquest, was the lone, independent African State.

Mr Walker pointed out that Signor Mussolini ip the Ethiopian campaign had argued that it was right to take over a country that had been made chaotic by tribal warfare. Mr Walker did not specify which Powers are interfering with Liberia, but. he said that Germany, Britain and France are principals, who are commercially interested.