RAPID DEVELOPMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 20 July 1936, Page 7

RAPID DEVELOPMENT.

WARSHIPS DISPATCHED. PARIS, July 18. A broadcast picked up from Madrid stated that army aircraft were bombing the rebels at Melilla and Ceuta. A delayed message from Madrid reports that parties of Moroccan rebels are landing on the Spanish coast. A later message from Spain states that the Spanish Government have issued a communique as follows: “The Government are masters of the situation and intend to maintain republican institutions and have full faith in the army’s loyalty.” Other messages reaching Paris from Spain declare that “incidents” occurred at Cuenca, 90 miles from Madrid. The number of victims is not yet known.

Two Spanish cruisers and a seaplane have gone to Melilla from Cartagena and Casablanca.

It is reported from the border that the outbreak began when legionaries were jeered at from the ex-Social-ist headguarters at Melilla, whereupon the legionaries broke their ranks, entered the building, and threw some of the occupants from the windows after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. Within an hour 2000 Spanish and Moorish troops in the neighbourhood of Melilla revolted. The movement spread like wildfire to Ceuta. Fighting occurred in the townships of Zoco, Jemis, Angora, Laraehe, Arzilla and Alksar.

Spain is still cut off from the world, but news from neighbours suggests that the republic is encountering another serious crisis. >■• ■ \