SPANISH WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1937, Page 5

SPANISH WAR

REIGN OF TERROR. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegra pli —Copyright). ST. .FEAN DE LUZ, September 14. A broadcast from Oviedo, based on disclosures of refugees from Gijon, alleges that Senor Ballamino Tomas, the Communist dictator, imprisoned 300) ! persons, mainly old men, women, and | children, oil hulks moored to the munition dumps at Port Mused. Several were killed in aerial bombardments. The reign of terror in Gijon is daily becoming intensified. The (dement opposing surrender is in full charge* and is rounding up all the moderates. A ('message from Valencia says the Government frankl.v admits that the situation in the Astuii is is critical. The message adds that the last act in the northern drama, which has now begun, will he Shakespearean in its tragedy. The Government’s offensive in Aragon, however, has been successful. Ihe Loyalist troops have captured all their objectives near Saragossa. UNCONFIRMED. VALENCIA, September 11. The belief that a submarine "ps sunk off Cartagena appears to he without foundation. The divers discovered nothing. SEAPLANE ATTACK. (Received this day at 12 noon). PERPGNAN, September 15. An insurgents seaplane circled the French steamer Port Oencire, after, bombing Port Bon and the frontier rail tunnel. (Oast batteries fired on the raider which went out to sea with a Rep ibliean fighter in pursuit. ESPIONAGE ARRESTS. (Received this day at 12 moil). MADRID, September 15. Two Germans and three Spaniards were among the first arrested in a Re publiean drive against espionage. r lhey had four thousand sterling in gold ana jewels. STEAMER FIRED ON. ST. JEAN 1)1 LUG, September ]5. The British steamer Hillfern was fired on by an insurgent trawler oil' Gvon and later machine-gunned by ft rebel plane, which tried to set fire to the deck cargo of oil, with incendiary bombs. There was no damage. AIR RAID ON HARBOUR. BRITISH VESSELS STRUCK. LONDON, September 14. The story of the bombing of the British steamer Hilda Moller by rebel aeroplanes in Gi,)on Harbour was told when the vessel put in to Falmouth for a general survey. She was struck in a score of places by bomb splinters.

The Hilda Aioller was at Gijon when six rebel aeroplanes made their raid, sweeping across the harbour, dropping bombs and driving the panic-stricken dockers and populace to shelter In clilfside tunnels and dug-outs, where the crews of the Hilda Aioller and other vessels hastened to follow them. Two masher-women on the riverside were killed, and a greaser on board the British steamer Stan bridge was wounded. Weeping women and children crowded the dug-outs amid clouds of shell-raised dust.

The Spanish warship Almiranto Cervera opened lire on the aeroplanes. The bombers in the first raid b'ew up a merchant ship, and a second eapsized and sank another. The Hilda Aioller was holed above the waterline, and otherwise* damaged. The Chinese crew of the Stanhridge, which was severely battered bocun«o she "'as alongside a Spanish vessel which was the bombers' target, were mi frightened that they would not return to tin* ship until next day. The three British steamers, Hilda Aioller, Stanhridge. and A trican ’1 ruder. departed together, the African Trader leaking so badly that she was forced to enter La Pal I ice. where ‘-lie probably will be beached. The Hilda Aloller’s compasses were broken, and she was steered to Falmouth with a boat compass.