Rebels Capture Badajoz

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 193, 17 August 1936, Page 7

Rebels Capture Badajoz

Mass Execution of Defenders

Sickening Atrocities by Black

Troops

Desperate Fighting 'on Northern

Front

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.-—Copyright

Received Sunday, 9.50 p.m.

LISBON, Aug. 15.

English and Portuguese newspaper correspondents who iletv over Badajoz during the final grim resistance report the most savage hand-to-hand fighting as the loyalists with the courage of desperation contested every inch of the insurgents advance. Near the international bridge the captured loyalists were butchered like sheep against the lurid background of the blazing city.

The native troops who formed a considerable part of the rebel forces lived up to their reputation for ferocity which sickened the horror-stricken correspondents who lauded on the Portuguese side of the frontier and unloaded medical supplies of food for the relief of the refugees.

Insurgent aeroplanes kept up a persistent bombardment of the town little of which now remains.

A Ilcndaye message says the lighting at San Sebastian and Irun continues with increased vehemence. Every house in Hendaye was shaken by the firing of the big guns and the crackle of the machine-guns was easily heard on the French side of the frontier.

The rebels are making a supreme effort for victory, but the Government forces are putting up an equally determined resistance. The efficiency of the rebel air bombing improved miraculously in the shortest time.

Lisbon messages from the frontier state that the insurgents finally occupied Badajcz at 6.45 p.m. after fierce street fighting.

1500 Killed at Badajoz

Irish Brigade to Help Rebels

MASS EXECUTIONS OF LOYALISTS.

“A RELIGIOUS WAR.”

Received Sunday, 10 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 16. The Lisbon newspaper Oseeulo reports that 1500 wero killed in the battle for Badajoz, mostly iu the attackers’ bomb and bayonet charges. The defenders dynamited buildings iu order to hamper tho insurgents whom their ’planes also machine-gunned. Mass executions of loyalists followed the rebels’ triumph. Two Government ’planes later bombed the insurgents. The battle for lrun and San Sebastian iu the north-east died down at mid-day and was resumed in tho afternoon, but iu the evening tho Iruu-San Scbastiau road was still opou, although the rebels claimed to have cut the Government troops’ communieatious. The rebels also declared that they had captured Babadilla. iu Andalusia. It is reported that Generals Franco and Mola have decided to blockade Madrid, hoping that the panic-stricken civil population will cause a speedy fall. The British United Press correspondent at Barcelona reports that a loyalist airman, Lieutenant Ceblc, engaged four rebel ’plaues over tho Aragon front. He brought down a. bomber and caused two others to collide and crash, killing Ihe occupants. The Paris newspaper l’lntransigeaut reports that Zamora, the famous Spanish goalkeeper, tho highest paid footballer in tho world, and Ortega, a. leading bull fighter, are among tho dead in Spain. All Religious Establishments Closed REBEL LEADER’S THREAT TO MADRID. Received Sunday, 6.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug 15. The Times’ Madrid correspondent says tho Government has issued a decreo closing all establishments belonging to religious orders or congregations whose members have either directly or indirectly taken the part of tho insurgents. “Taking the part of the insurgents” iueludes everything from direct armed action or resistance to subscribing funds and saying prayers for the success of the movement. Insurgent aircraft flew over Madrid and dropped leaflets containing General Franco’s appeal to tho inhabitants to go over to his side. “The solo aim of the movement 1 lead is to freo Spain from Communist tyranny. Victory for my forces is certain. The regime at which I am aiming is ono which will consolidate the liberties already gained by the workers and even add to them.” As a further inducement to capitulation ho threatens the severest punishment to thoso continuing to resist.

Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m, DUBLIN, Aug. 15. Gavin O’Duffy is forming an Irish brigade to help the rebels, on the ground that the present conflict is not between Fascism and antiFascism, but betwoen Christ and anti-Christ. A Gibraltar message states that all the Rio Tlnto inhabitants are safe in Huelva, Reprisals Feared REBELS ABANDON AIR BOMBING ISSUE OF GASMASKS. LONDON, August 14. The Ministry of War claims that the rebels were defeated a.t Navalmorales. The Governr nt is preparing a decisive offensive at Guadarrama. Although the rebels are flinging great forces into the battle for Sau Sebastian and Irun, the Government so far is holding its own. The rebels have abandoned air bombing as they fear reprisals, but w asmasks have been issued to the population at San Sebastian and Irun as the rebels are now in possession of gas bombs. Food supplies are considered sufficient for at least several days,

“ Need for Prayer ” WORSE THINGS TO COME. ROME, August 14, (Roceived This Day, 9.40 a.m.) “There was never moro need for prayer than at present, and news which has been arriving reports even worse things to come in different parts of the world," said the Pope when addressing Italian Catholic Action supporters and “Only God can save ns from this chaos of ideas and human fallings and help us to arrive at something good.” Cuckoo in the Nest EMBASSY INCIDENT IN ROME. BERLIN, Aug. 14. An incident reminiscent of tho occurrences in tho Spanish Embassies in Romo and in the Vatican City respectively, took place during the absence of tho former Ambassador, Senor Francisco Agramoute, who had resigned after the outbreak of the revolt. A self-styled represeutativo of the Spanish Government arrived and informed tho staff that he had been sent to re-organise the diplomatic services in Germany. Seuor Agramoute, who was still quartered at the Embassy, on hearing the news, summoned the police, who, however, were powerless to intrude in an extra-territorial area, and therefore, the newcomer retained possession.

Can Rebels Win ?

BRITISH CORRESPONDENT’S IMPRESSIONS. LONDON, Aug. 14, The Daily Herald’s special correspondent at Barcelona, after travelling over tho entire north-eastern front, concludes that Catalonia is out of all danger. Whatever happens elsewhere the rebels have lost the war in the east of the peninsula. Elsewhere the rebels are on the defensive. Their superiority is purely technical. They have more modern war materials and officers with military experience than tho Government forces, but the rank and file are often uncnthusiastic, and General Franco is uncertain how far ho can rely on their-loyalty, hence his reluctance to advance for fear of desertion?

Still Defiant AMBASSADOR TO HOLY SEE, ROME, Aug. 14. Senor Zulueta still defies the efforts of General Franco, the Spanish rebel leader, to dislodge him from the Vatican Embassy. When Senor de Cercer was appointed Spanish Ambassador in Rome recently, the military and naval attaches, who sympathised with, tho rebels, entered his room and said ho must not present his credentials. Senor Cercer prudently went to. Paris* whereupon tlic Spanish

Government replaced him with Senor Aguinaga from Berno. Senor Aguinuga, after several ineffectual attempts, to enter tho Embassy, broke in, accompanied by two loyal commercial attaches, but the trio was seized. Senor Aguinaga was informed that he would not be released until ho signed a resignation. Senor Aguinaga signed and departed angrily for Paris, after which Senor Rafael Forns, a supporter of the rebels, displayed his own credentials as Ambassador representing the Burgos Government, allegedly signed by Senor Aguinaga. -- A similar quarrel broke out in - the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. Tho Ambassador, Senor Zulueta, determined neither to resign nor to quit his residence, and held out in one portion of his Embassy, while his counsellor and first secretary, both of whom are not in favour of the Madrid Government, and have resigued their posts, occupied aaoiket part of ike. same building.