News Could Not Be Better!

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 190, 13 August 1936, Page 7

News Could Not Be Better!

Government Optimism on all Fronts

REBELS MAKE NO HEADWAY AGAINST MADRID

PEARS OP ECONOMIC CHAOS

United Press Association— By Eloctrlo Telegraph. —Copyrisht. Received Thursday, 2 a.in. MADRID, Aug. 12. “News from all fronts could not be better,” declared Colonel Sarabia, Minister of War, leaving a Cabinet meeting at Gilral. More cautious]y°he described the situation as “slow but gratifying.” No changes of importance are reported on any front. While the Government forces are advancing against Badajoz the rebels appear to be concentrating against the Government strongholds on the Franco-Spanish frontier. The expected attack on Iran, however, did not occur this * morning and it is now considered more likely that the insurgents realise that it would mean great bloodshed in view of the strongly-forti-fied position of the Government troops and prefer to try to starve Iran and San Sebastian into submission. The insurgents appear to have abandoned their advance against Madrid for the time being. The opinion is now growing that the war will last for months. The chief danger is economic chaos. The first signs of currency trouble have appeared. Silver has gone from circulation and the Government is desperately trying to maintain the peseta at its normal value, but panic prices are being paid for sterling. All rents below £6 per month have been reduced 50 per cent, and active warworkers are exempted from rent altogether. The Barcelona Cabinet after a prolonged sitting decided not to recommend clemency to the insurgent generals, Goded and Burrell, who led an abortive rising of the Barcelona Garrison. Both were shot at dawn. A Madrid message says children and other relatives of several Cabinet Ministers and other Government leaders are in the hands of the rebels who threatened to shoot the family of General Miaja, leader of the Government columns in the south, unless he withdraws from the campaign.

Badajos, famous in the Duke of Wellington's campaign in Spain, is near the Portuguese frontier, while Iran and San Sebastian are in the extreme north-eastern corner of Spain, near Hendaye, a French watering place in the Bay of Biscay, and apparently the point from which most of the British war correspondents are operating. Neutrality Makes Progress OPTIMISM IN PRANCE.

Received Thursday, 2 ami. PARIS, Aug. 12. Optimism over the progress of the neutrality negotiations is displayed in the Trench Press. Lo Journal considers the whole world is so aware of the risks attending intervention that none are inclined to defy them. Diplomatic circles in Paris hope that an agreement will he reached over the week-end. Even Rome is more favourable. War to the Bitter End rebel success in desperate BATTLE LONDON, Aug. 11. The prospect of the cessation of hostilities continues to be remote. The Socialist and Communist Press emphasise that it is a light to the bitter end. The newspaper Mundo Obrcro declares that the slogan must be " extermination,'’ while a woman deputy, Senora Ibarruri (La Passionaria) urges following the enemies’ example of holding wives and children as hostages, saying: “There can be no truce, pity, or compassion.’’ General Mola asserts that the war will end by one side or the other being exterminated. Loyalists are working in the arms and dynamite factories near Oviedo for 24 hours a day. Government besiegers of the city have refused to allow water supplies to reach it, and are demanding a prompt surrender. The Government declares that it will force the surrender of other cities by similar means. Optimism in the capital is increasing as a result of the Government’s capture of Gelsa and Oscra, on the Ebro River, within 20 miles of Saragossa. The News-Chronicle’s correspondent on the Saragossa front announces that the Loyalists are within seven miles of

the city which, though held by a rebel garrison contains a populace entirely Governmental in sympathies. This explains why Loyalist columns are marching across a scorching, shadeless desert instead of bombing the city into submission. rirst Big Battle A rebel advance in a new battle for San Sebastian was checked three miles from Inin. Nevertheless, 6000 rebels, supported by aeroplanes, motorised machine-guns, and heavy artillery, launched their first big battle in full armament strength, and after eight hours’ desperate fighting captured Tolosa. General Mola’s army now occupies a triangle bounded by Oyarzun, Endarlaza, and the neighbourhood of Irun. Death Sentences on Two Rebel Leaders COURT-MARTIAL ON STEAMER BARCELONA, Aug. 11. Tho robel leaders, General Goded and General Burrell, who were held as prisoners aboard tho steamer Uruguay, were sentenced to death by a courtmartial which sat in the steamer’s dining saloon. Colonel Bela Pena presided. Eight officers and Civil Guards acted as warders, 'l’hrco lawyers and 30 journalists and photographers attended. General Goded admitted directing the Barcelona rebellion, and both prisoners declared that they acted in tho belief that they were eo-operating in a general rising to repress extremist unrest. They intended to respect the Constitution of the Republic.

Atrocity Stories INDIGNANT DENIAL BY BRITONS IN MADRID MADRID, Aug. 11. The remaining members of the British colony here indignantly repudiate atrocity stories retailed by unimportant iefugecs to certain British newspapers. Britons assert that there have been no atrocities in Madrid. The British Chamber of Commerce and British clubs issue reassuring messages, adding that ousincss people are doing their best to continue operations.

Sentences on Italian Airmen AEROPLANES CONFISCATED LONDON, Aug. 11. A message from Oudja, French Morocco, says that tho Correctional Court sentenced the six Italian airmen who made a forced landing on July 30 while on route to Spanish Morocco to a month’s imprisonment and a line of £ll 16s Sd each. Tho First Offenders Act precludeu the carrying out of the penalties, but both aeroplanes were confiscated. Arms and Ammunition DUTCH IMPOSE BAN THE HAGUE, Aug. 11. The Dutch Government has informed Franco that it will not allow tho export or transport of arms and ammunition to Spain. Britishers in Madrid Warned READY FOR IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE.

Received Wednesday, 5.20 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 12. Tho Daily. Telegraph’s Madrid correspondent says, acting on instructions from London, the British Consul has warned all British subjects in Madrid to be ready for immediate departure. Those not wishing to be evacuated will be obliged to sign a paper absolving the British Government from any responsibility for the safety of life or property. \ight of Asylum

Received Wednesday, 0.20 p.m. BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 31. It is ollicially uuuounccd that the Spanish Government has recognised. th<j right of Seuor Mansilla, the Argentine representative in Spuiu, to extend asylum to revolutionaries and remove them with him to Prance. Rebel Attaches Oust Spanish Ambassador COMEDY IN ROME. Received Wednesday, 9.50 p.m. ROME, Aug. 11. When Seuor do Cercer, successor ot Scnor Justo Oceriu, who resigned on July ot), was appointed Spanish Ambassador to Rome a fortnight ago, the military and naval attaches who sympathised with th? rebels entered his room, placed a. revolver on his table and declared he must not present his credentials. Senor de Cercer prudently went to Paris, whereupon the Spanish Government replaced him with Scnor Aguinaga from Berne. Senor Aguinaga, after several ineffectual attempts to- enter the Embassy at Barbcrini Palace, orokc in by a side-door to-day, accompanied by two loyal commercial attaches, Saurez and Escudero, but the trio were seized, despite loud shouts for help, and confined to a room. Senor

Aguinaga was informed that he would

uot be released until he had signed his resignation, which tho rebel sympathisers hastily typed and presented at the revolver point. The police, though called, were uot allowed to trespass on Spanish territory, Senor Aguinaga signed his resignation and departed angrily for Baris, after which Scnor Rafael Forns, a supporter of the rebels, displayed Jus own credentials as Ambassador representing the Burgos Government allegedly signed by Senor Aguinaga. Seuor Forns then secured the resignations of tho remaining loyalists on the staff, labelled his offico door “Charge d’Affaires Burgos Government’’ and declared himself ready for business.

America’s Neutrality

Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. NEW YORK, Aug. 11. The State Department official!} affirmed the nation’s neutrality in tho Spanish civil war to-night. A circular sent to tho Embassy and consulates in Spain sets forth a policy of complete neutrality and expresses tho hope that American citizens will “observe this well-recognised American policy.”-