THE SPANISH REBELLION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4607, 9 October 1934, Page 5

THE SPANISH REBELLION

SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

DEATH ROLL OF 500; 2000 INJURED.

COUNCILLORS AND PRIESTS MURDERED. The strikes in Spain, which started last week, have developed into a rebellion, and civil war prevails throughout the country- It seemed that the Government had the situation well in hand at the week-end, but further outbreaks have taken place, and the outlook is becomingstill more serious. The ranks of the rebels are swelling, and the Government troops are finding it difficult to cope with the sporadic outbreaks which are becoming more numerous and more serious day by day. The death roll up to late yesterday was 500 with over 2000 injured, and fresh deaths are being recorded every day.

Some frightful atrocities have been perpetrated by the rebels, who appear to be well supplied With arms. A shortage of food is reported at Madrid and other towns, and this will only tend to make the situation worse. Many public men have been murdered in cold blood, and the rebels' seem as if they will fight to the finish, though the Premier, Senor Ferroux, has offered clemency.

EXECUTIONS TO START RIOTING STILL CONTINUES. FOOD SHORTAGE IN MADRID. (Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received 1.5 p.m.) Madrid, October 8. Executions are expected to start in Spain this afternoon. Disorder continues throughout the country. Rebels fired the barracks and church at Carolina and several people were killed in the fighting at Alicante. Striking miners set fire to the Town Hall at Linares, when nine were killed and ten wounded. Sniping continues at Madrid, where Cabinet is consulting on the problem of feeding the city, a problem which is becoming most acute.

Renewed Fighting in Madrid

Later news states that fierce fighting occurred in the northern section of Madrid late yesterday night. The battle was fought in darkness, the lights being extinguished immediately the first shots were fired. It is impossible to estimate the casualties, but hundreds have been arrested. The residence of Senor Lerroux, the Premier, was attacked during the height of the fighting, but reinforcements were summoned and the rebels beaten off.

Rebels Unsubdued in Asturias

Further troops have been sent to the Asturias Province, where the Government admits the Socialists are still unsubdued.

Sporadic fighting has been renewed in Barcelona, where the war atmosphere has been heightened by the blazing of an immense cotton warehouse which was ignited by shells. Trial of Catalonian Rebels.

The military tribunals have begun the trial of the Catalonian rebels, but it is unlikely that the centence will be death lest it make martyrs of them, but others may be summarily executed.

Carnage and Murder.

Two thousand soldiers arrived at Tarragona to reinforce the loyalists, nine of whom were killed. The revolutionaries at Bellpuiz hanged several councillors. The rebels at Navas captured a priest, poured petrol over his vestments and set fire to them with fatal results. A priest at San Vincente de Castille escaped, whereupon the rebels set fire to a church. The rioters at La Carolina took refuge in the Socialist headquarters, which they defended with bombs until overcome, with the loss of three dead.

A church and presbytery were burnt at Raterno Deicampo. The Civil guards' barracks at Barruelo were blown up, families killed, and orphans' home similiarly treated, the nuns in charge losing their lives.

Death Roll of 500.

The total casualties are now estimated at 500 dead and 2000 wounded.

The situation in the capital is distinctly worse and an extensive Socialist coup is feared hourly. Anarchist members of the Labour Federation are supporting the strikers whose activities are extending to Andalusia, where sniping accompanies guerilla warfare. The northern revolt continues at Astui'ias where the strikers are well armed. Troops are being handicapped by the rough roads and many have been blowln up and telephones interrupted. Sniping from Roofs. A Barcelona message states that fusillades of gunfire succeeded ominous lulls throughout the day. The revolutionaries, whose activities had been regarded as ended, are now stampeding the populace from the Central Square. Striking courage is being displayed by the conductors and drivers of trams and buses who are risking their lives to obey General Batet's orders to maintain traffic, despite their incurring the rebels' hatred as renegades. The anarchists have abandoned fightine 1 in the streets where gaping holes in the buildings are due to artillery fire. The rebels took refuge on the roofs from whence they are steadily sniping at the trams. The passengers protect themselves by lying fiat on the floors. Low flying aeroplanes are attempting to put snipers out of action.