MADRID CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1936, Page 5

MADRID CAMPAIGN

CITY BOMBARDED

SITUATION REMAINS UNCHANGED

•[United Press Association—By Elecirio Telegraph—Copy right).

LONDON, November 9. Mr G: A: Ogilvie-Forbes, British Charge d’Affairs in Madrid, reports the situation ' s unchanged. Messages from the front show the rebels are threatening the capital. General Castvon’s left flank repulsed a ' violent attack by twenty-five thousand loyalists. , . Besiegers have captured most of the buildings outside Madrid, and the rest of Manzanares, ~including tne artillery barracks. < The rebels’ intention of reaching the .model. .prison in the north-west quarter of Madrid and liberating the-prisoners was frustrated by the Government- transferring them to.the county gaol at.Alcala de Henares. •. •:

Shrieking an alarJn sirens heralded the resumption this morning of a terrific aerial artillery bombardment •of the capital. Bombs fell in the main street, and caused much damage in the working class quartets.: The rebel bombardment on- Almeria, a seaport in southern Spain,' ignited petrol tanks, containing millions of gallons owned by a- British company. Eight thousand loyalists have been killed in the, ; last two months at Ahneria, which, the insurgent cruiser Cariarias again bombarded yesterday. General Franco, realising the magnitude of his' task, in view of his fifteen thousand Moors being the only first-class. force Ri.S; disposal, has Brought a additional troops with artillery and machine-guns from Morocco.,, . . . Meanwhile,, despite rumours of insurgent successes, loyalist militia- are doggedly , holding their ground in defence of the capital. They repulsed rebel attacks, and have recaptured certain southern positions.

MADRID’S FATE UNSETTLED

REBELS ENTER CITY LIMITS

LONDON, November 9.

It is reported from Talavera that the insurgents' .crossed the Manzanares river, penetrated to the western part of Madrid,, and took possession of the area surrounding the model,prison. According to. a message from London, dated November.; the- Spanish Embassy announced last ' night,., that Madrid was still .in. the hands,iof the loyalists." An -insurgent -message Groin Talavera asserts that the. < rebels have .entered the city limits* which is correct in the sense that the former Royal Park, the Casa del Cainpo, to the west of the Manzanares,- was under municipal jurisdiction, but telephone messages from' Madrid to-night stated that the Government still-held both banks of the Manzanares, which is the last life of defence south and west of Madrid.

The correspondent of the *>, “Daily* Telegrrph”' at Getafe says the loyalists have blown up- the bridges across the Manzanafes river, which means that the rebels* wilt have to cross by pontoons under fire when they attempt tp cross the river.; Apparently dl the 15,000 Moors in Spain are being employed in the attack on Madrid. The rebels, realising that the attack has ! been brought to a standstill, have resumed 'the' aerial bombardment, and artillery 1 is also firing on the capital. Ten aeroplanes delivered three attacks, dropping dozens of 2001 b bombs. Several fell in main streets. One fell on a church in a . working district, killing j eight women and children. One was' killed and" 200 injured elsewhere. An artillery shell fell on the French'' Embassy, but there were no casualties. The correspondent of the - “Daily Mail” at Upper Carabanchel says the loyalists sent out a body of women militia to oppose the force threatening the Segovia bridge'. The rebels, in the belief that the women had come to surrender, dispelled; but the women dropped down and opened fire with machine-guns and riflris'/ compelling a conflict. It ended in the women’s frantic retreat, leaving 150 dead arid wounded.

The rebels have taken prisoners Joseph Boyd and Frederick MacMahon, members of a 'Scottish ambulance, who unwittingly entered no-man’s land.

FRANCE AND ARMS EMBARGO

LONDON. November 9

The Paris correspondent of “Th§ Times” says it is understood that the Prime Minister (M. Blum) told a private meeting of the National Socialist party that he is prepared to raise the arms embargo on the' Spanish Government if Britain would do likewise.

SALVADOR RECOGNISES. "FRANCO. SAN SALVADOR. November 8. The Government of San Salvador has recognised General Franco’s Government in Spain. ...

MADRID BOMBED (Received this, day at 1.80 p.iri.)

LONDON, November 9

Shells arid bombs rained on the capital all day, but although the rebels claim important successes, the defenders ar e fighting desperately, and the position appears noF. .substantially altered. General Franco continues to move reinforcements towards Madrid, but has not yet succeeded in entering the streets, where there was a further air- raid ip the evening, four bombers and three fighters appearing

with such suddenness that there was no time to sound the warning sirens. The raids killed ten, and wounded 164. The shelling is causing widespread damage. Thirty-three are reported to have been killed by rebel shells at Vallescas.

NO RETREAT

SAYS LOYALIST LEADER.

LONDON, November 9

Miaia has issued a declaration that he will never order a retreat from the city. H e will fight to the bitter end.