BATTLE FOR MADRID

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 89, 12 November 1936, Page 3

BATTLE FOR MADRID

BEBELS WITHIN CITY BOUNDARIES r IMPORTANT STREET CAPTURED LONDON, November 10. i An official conununique issued by the > insurgents at Avila claims that their - advance columns have penetrated the . real boundaries of Madrid and have captured an important street near the north station. ; The Spanish Ambassador called at . the Foreign Office and presented the f following note: —“The Spanish Government has temporarily transferred to • Valencia, where it is determined to ( carry on with the redoubled energy against the rebels.” Yesterday’s messages from Madrid show that the rebels are threatening the capital. General Caste.jon’s left flank repulsed a violent attack by 25,000 loyalists. The besiegers captured most of the buildings outside Madrid west of the Manzanares river, including the 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 goal at Alcala de Henares. Shrieking alarm sirens heralded the resumption this morning of a terrific aerial and artillery bombardment of the capital. Bombs fell in the main streets, and they also caused much damage in the working class quarters. Shells and bombs rained on the capital all day, but, although the rebels claim important successes, the defenders are fighting desperately, and the position appears to be substantially the same. There was another air raid this even ; ing, four bombers and three fighters appearing with such suddenness that there was no time to sound the warning sirens. As a result of these raids, 10 were killed and 164 were wounded. The shelling is causing widespread damage. Reckless Charges In spite of the Moors’ reckless charges and a prolonged bombardment, the rebels failed to cross the bridges leading to the centre of Madrid. They are still held up by elaborate concrete trenches manned by troops which are well-equipped with machine-guns. The position of the Government forces is so strong here that the rebel aeroplanes, whicE hitherto have been used sparingly to avoid damage to the city, were to-day ordered to make a full attack. Soon the battlefront along the river was blotted out by a groat screen of exploding bombs interspersed with bursts of shells from the 'massed batteries, but the death-dealing hail failed to dislodge the militiamen. General Franco, realising the magnitude of his task, in view of his 15,000 Moors being the only first-class force at his disposal, has brought 1000 additional regulars with artillery and ma-chine-guns from Morocco. Ho is continuing to move his reinforcements towards Madrid, but he has not yet succeeded in entering the streets. In spite of rumours of insurgent successes, the loyalist militia is doggedly : holding its ground in defence of the capital. It has repulsed rebel attacks : and recaptured certian southern positions. Thirty-three are reported to have been killed by rebel shells at Vallescas. The rebel bombardment of Almeria, a seaport in southern Spain, ignited petrol tanks containing millions of gallons of petrol owned by a British company. Eight thousand loyalists have been killed during the last two months in Almeria, which the insurgent cruiser Canarias again bombarded yesterday.