SPANISH WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1937, Page 5

SPANISH WAR

FRANCO’S DEMAND for full recognition. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON .July 7. General Franco has sent a Note to the Powers in which he states: — . “The sacrifices which Nationalist Spain is making;, are in defence of •Western Civilisation, by the freeing of her territory from Communism, and (by establishing national unity. These sacrifices have entitled her to demanu respect, and to speak clearly to the world, and especially- to England and France, who have, either by their action or by their inaction,, intervened in favour" of those w'ho are seeking jfor Bolshevism to destroy Spain.” “We have presented' a powerful and unanswerable reason- for demanding our recognition 1 as belligerents. But we see the justice of our cause distorted and disfigured,’ wXile silence is preserved regarding the criminal genius that is presiding over the Government and the entire life of Bed Spain.” “None of those countries who are morally supporting us seek any terri- ! torial advantages at our expense, or any alteration of the ‘Mediterranean status quo. • “If other nations, forgetting the interests of the future, do not satisfy the demands of Nationalist Spain, and if they reply to her proofs of friendship with injustice and illwill, they must not,bc surprised if to-morrow, our international and economic policy closes its doprs to those showing their omnity to,use in our hour of need.” , MADRID BATTLE f < LONDON, July 6. A Valencia communique reports the .' capture!of Brunete, an important position twenty miles ivest of Madrid. Government troons reached., Villanueve ; Dela y Canada, where a violent "battle is proceeding. A newidrive against Santander has begun. Battles are raging on three fronts. Italian lcwioiiaries in the north, captured Castro Alen, sixteen miles from the coast. General Davilla’s troops in the south are attaching a deep salient in the Bascine lines near Valmeaeja. General Franco's •' troops attacked west''of Santander. -■ 4 ”" ' ‘ •' 15 BRITISH SHIPS AT SANTANDER ‘ RUGBY, July 6. Mr Oliver' Stanley, replying to a Commons question, said that during the fortnight ended June 30, 15 British ships entered Santander, all of which carried observing officers. The •Board of Trade had no information that any of the vessels experienced difficulty. Since June 30, however, the 'Spanish insurgent war . yessels endeavoured to prevent the entry iof merchant ships to Santander,' and had ! captured a French vessel on July 4. Notification had been sent to " British shipping regarding the risks which British merchant ships, bound for-, Santander, might encounter in territorial waters.

SHIP TORPEDOED* LONDON July 6. The British cruiser, “Penelope,” is searching for the crow of a British ship, believed to have been torpedoed ‘in the Mediterranean,- an, SO,S reporting men were adrift in an open Loat, without oars, the captain being dead, after being torpedoed by an unknown submarine, 1 50 miles from Barcelona. The vessel’s name was indecipherable; \ '

- .V POISON GAS A GERMAN ALLEGATION BERLIN, July 7. The newspapers are suddenly aliening that the Spanish Government, is uhinpoison gas and preparing large quantities for future use. The production of large supplies, according to the Nationalists, began three months ago under Moscow's o*ders. The necessary acids are not obtainable in Spain, but have been taken in from, Russian Black Sea ports. The Government, it is reported, is making feverish efforts to supply the troops with gas-masks, fearing retaliation. LONDON July 6. The Associated Press diplomatic correspondent understands in view of the calmness succeding last week’s tension. that there is no chance of a hrenkvlown of- the Non-Intervention Committee, but a sub-committee will be appointed to work out an equitable compromise, . regarding which private discussions are proceeding. The plenary meeting of the Non-In-tervention Committee is called for Friday. Mr Eden, announcing this in the Commons, said the British Government’s policy remained as he explained yesterday. The Government had declared a willingness to consider any others that were just and fair. SPANISH DENIAL. OF USE OF POISON GAS. (Received this ' 1o *' a*. °?0 a m. N LONDON. Jnlv 7. The Spanish Embassy denies that

the Government troops are using poison gas which j, s being suddenly alleged by German newspapers according to a i message from Berlin. The Embassy stated'“the campaign has begun in the Italian and German! press with suspicipus anainimity and, j noise and the Government directs ' suspicion to the anxiety with which it regards this new ruse of totalitarian states.” A GERMAN REPORT. (Received this dav at 12 noon). BERLIN, July 7. A report that Britain is seeking con-! tact with General Franco is welcomed in Wilhelmstrasse, where it is stated that Germany will be glad if other nations have the same frank and iriendly with Franco as ourselves. A FRENCH OPINION. | . I (Received this day at 12 noon). i PAR IS ? July 7. ! Despite Franco’s note the impression is growing that General Franco is realising the military, naval and economic, power of ‘England and France as being, ultimately ' more important to Spain’s ; future than the Italian and German i self interested support. ITALIAN VIEWPOINT (Received this day at 10.40 a.m.J ROME, July 7. Official circles describe General Franco’s note as “a noble document” and apnrove of the threat of economic reprisals, which they consider arc especially aimed at Britain. It is believed that British rearmament will be heavily handicapped if she is unable to obtain iron ore from Bilbao. A WIN CLAIMED MXDRID, July 7. The Government claims the capture •of Villanueva dela Cauda on the Madrid front, after a brilliant night attack, in which the insurgents were driven Back 15 to 20 miles and many prisoners were captured. There was also a number of planes destroyed. M 4 V