FRESH CONFLICTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 24 July 1936, Page 10

FRESH CONFLICTS

BLOODSHED IN SPAIN. REBELS TRUCULENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received Julv 23, 12.50 p.m. London, July 22. Fresh conflicts in Barcelona have resulted in 500 heaths, tho new revolt breaking out after tho Government’s control seemed restored. Government aeroplanes bombed the Lean aerodrome and destroyed eight aeroplanes. Anarchy reigns in Northern Catalonia, where the Government extremists, armed with weapons captured from rebels, are destroying churches and public buildings. They control the entire province except _ Seo De Urgel, whence their sympathisers have been driven into Andorra by the rebels. The Times Barcelona correspondent, telegraphing from Perpignan (France) describes his flight with French refugees in motor cars and charabancs running tho gauntlet of ambushes and barricades. The fugitives learnt that the Government forces shot the rebel leader General Gay, who sentenced to death the Republican martyrs, Captains Galan and Hernandez, in IJ3O. Forty chapels, churches, and Convents were burnt at Vich before a concerted signal launched three days fighting at Barcelona on July 19. The Government troops gradually became victorious, but though the rebel, General Goded, surrendered and urged his followers to do so they declined to yield and stood up to further slaughter before tlio Government, employing bombing aircraft a.nd artillery, crushed their resistance. MARCH ON MADRID.

The Government dispositions for the defence of Madrid, on which the rebels are advancing from Pamplona and Saragossa in the north, and Cadiz and Algeciras in the south, include the formation of committees controlling the workers distributed in the city and suburbs. There are 1500 cats lor patrols and 200 in reserve guarded by machine guns. Many girls accompany the patrols who are quelling the snipers’ activities from the roofs. Motor lorries have left with several thousand militia for Saragossa. Another loyal column is about to converge on Saragossa from Catalonia. The British Consul is inquiring into the imprisonment at Madrid of the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent, Mr Rowland Winn, the son of Lord St. Oswald. BATTLE IN STRAITS.

A fierce naval battle has been raging ill the Straits of Gibraltar. Warships, aided by three Government aeroplanes, bombed and machine-gunned the rebel barracks at La Linea, which responded, several shells falling in Gibraltar Harbour and near the Devil’s Gap Battery, causing the British troops to man the guns on the Upper Rock. Refugees from Malaga and Marbella describe the situation as ghastly. 'The principal streets are completely burned out. Three aeroplanes bombed the San Roque Barracks held by the rebels. Four submarines guard the harbour. A rebel airman, mistaking them tor Spanish supply ships, bombed a London 1 anker, the British Endeavour, and bombed and machine-gunned a Liverpool steamer, the Mahratta. There were no casualties, though steel fragments struck the tanker. A shell fired from a warship against rebel war ’planes exploded ashore near the Rock Hotel, causing a small landslide. Aircraft flew over the Rock and turned back towards Ceuta amid a hail of shrapnel, which exploded the Naval Cinema and the Air Force headquarters. MADRID AT STAKE.

Besides the contact on the Buitrago Heights, a rebel column is reported to be in action with Government troops 15 miles from Madrid. This means that the battle for the capital has actually begun. General Alula’s troops are welltrained and equipped with-motorised artillery, whereas the detending army of 165.000 includes many inexperienced civilians. The Government claim to have captured Guadn, La Jara, Toledo, Buitrago, La Granja, and Almanza. Their forces are believed to be carrying out a strategic retreat from Navarre, which is preponderantly pro-Fascist. Captain Mola, brother of the rebel commander, has committed suicide at Barcelona. General Della no reports that the three Government warships which were bombarding Cadiz have been sunk l>y the rebels, but this is probably clue to their departure for Puente Alavorga, between Algeciras and La Linea, in search of fuel, which was denied them at Gibraltar. The Spanish tanker Ophir supplied the Government warships with oil fuel, but the Jamie Primeiro requires 1500 tons of coal, which cannot be obtained. The correspondent of the Times at Tangier says a wounded officer ancl four men were landed from the Jamie Primeiro, which afterwards departed. They state that tho crew killed all the other officers and mastered the ship, which joined the Government forces.