Defeat and Victory

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 211, 7 September 1936, Page 7

Defeat and Victory

Short-lived Rebel Victory PORCED TO RETIRE AT TALAVERA. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Sunday, 8.20 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 6. While Aladrid claims to have stopped the insurgents' westerly advaueo on tho Estremadura province the rebels in a wireless announcement from Burgos claim a great victory and tho capture of artillery at Talavcra (S 3 miles southwest of Aladrid) aud dc ia Reiuu, opening the road to Toledo. LATER. The temporary victory at Talavcra of the rebels who have now boon forced to retire on a 12-mile front, was duo lu the strategy of the insurgent General Castcjon wUo ordered a retreat on the pretence that his troops were demoralised. Tho loyalists quitted their positions and charged the retreating column only to ambushed between two other columns who fired on both flunks. General fugues, tho rebel commander, said: “We lulled everyone defending the town. I was sorry lor poor General itiquolme, tho Government leader, falling into the trap like an inexperienced child. ''

This exultation turned out to bo premature, a Government airman later reporting that tne loyalists nad completely recovered the lost ground, tttroug batteries of artillery and seven tripioongined bombers flanked by cliusei •'planes supported Uiu Government attack which was driven gallantly home by Colonel Ascnio and Colonel Burdin of tho biiuck Guards. Aiany prisoners were taken. President Azalia arrived at Talavcra after tho victory aud was enthusiastically greeted.

The rebels nad uopod to break the Government line screening the road to Madrid and also relieve the starving occupants of Toledo and Alcazar. The loyalists, under Colonel Buena veutira Durruti and Aiajor Perez Parras on tho Saragossa front numbering 10,0UU, are now within sight of the city on which an attack is being launched after the arrival of 25,000 reinforcements from Catalonia. The rebels are doing their utmost to hamper their advance aud claim to have inflicted a reverse, killing 300 in the vicinity of Pamplona. The now Prime Minister, Honor Caballero, has issued a manifesto stating that his foreign policy was friendliness with all countries, and adherence to the League. Cabinet has appointed Boner Pablo do Azcarate depui v-Becrotarv-Ge nera! of the League as Ambassador to London. - The Government attack on tho island of Majorca admittedly failed after the less oi prisoners, arms and munitions. The remainder will be sent to Aragon to support the attack on Baragossu. Majorca was a small-scale Gallipoli. An onimai communique dealing with .the withdrawal says: ‘The heroic Catalan column withdrew after a magnificent action, again embarking scathless owing to Captain Bayo’s admirable strategy in accordance with the orders of the Republican Government which did not consult the Catalonian Government thereon."

The landing was largely a Catalonian idea to which Madrid was opposed, Cabinet declaring “Majorca can wait.” Tho rebels captured the seaside village of Fuentarrubia alter a two-hour battle, tho garrison fleeing in boats to France under fire. Several were wounded. The Madrid Government has rejected the humanisation proposals on tho ground of its preoccupation in suppressing the rebels. A Grave Turn ITALY IN BELLIGERENT MOOD. ROME, Sept. 5. The international aspect of tho civil war is again taking a grave turn. It is confirmed that the 10,000-ton Italian cruiser Pola has departed for Barcelona with a lauding party of a hundred infantry, but a landing party is customary on ships sent to foreign waters. More warships arc reported to be sailing from Italy. It is hinted that Italy will be compelled to take strong measures if the Catalan Government will not give satisfactory assurances of tho safety of Italian nationals. Mussolini “Holds His Hand”

Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 6. The News-Chronicle’s Rome correspondent says only the advice of the Italian Ambassadors ia Loudon and Berlin persuaded Mussolini to "hold his hand” and the official ultimatum he intended to send to Barcelona following the shooting of Fasanelli. Mussolini had informed the Ambassadors of the terms of the proposed ultimatum ami asked them to ascertain the probable Anglo-German reactions. Both Signor Grandi (London) and Signor Attoiico (Berlin) replied that such a step would have disastrous consequences and il would lie better to await Barcelona’s reply to the Italian protest. It was afterwards officially announced that tho Italian forces would remain in a “stale of alarm” but no warship other than tho l’ola would for the moment be sent to Spanish waters.

An Italian, Umberto Fasanelli, father of seven young children, who was shot at Barcelona, was the sixth Italian' killed in Catalonia since the civil war began. The Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail says that Fasanelli was shot in tho presence of his wife. A Government spokesman at Rome said; ‘‘The! sole reason for the killing was the! Communists’ discovery of 'sacred images and pictures in liis home.” The Consul at Barcelona was instructed .to make a very strong protest.,-

Ruthless Killing by Moors In Iran POIGNANT SCENES IN RUINED TOWN. LONDON, Sept. 4. Over streets littered with dead in Iran to-night hangs a pall of smoko as evidence of the burning of more than half the town. It is estimated that 2000 were killed in four hours of savage lighting preceding the rebels' victory. Half-naked Aloors ranged the streets, slashing and shooting aud not leaving a living being as they advanced behind a barrage of hand-grenades. Tho wounded were ruthlessly knifed and shot. Undoubtedly the wild retreat to Drench territory averted much more merciless killing. Irun, the main gateway from Prance to Spain, is now in rebel hands, but the prize has been turned into ashes, tho lowa being a mass of blazing and smoking ruins.

The resistance of the Government troops has died slowly, flickering out only to burst out again elsewhere wilii the energy of despair. One of the most desperate resistances was maintained by 12 machine-gunners, 10 French, one German, and one Belgian, who fought to the end. At least 20 Frenchmen lighting against ,tlio rebels were killed. A steady drizzle of rain to-night was insufficient to quell the flames at Irun. Refugees’ Frantic Rush. As the rebels swept oil there was a frantic rush of refugees across the bridge to France—women carrying babies, weeping children, and haggard men, many in their night attire. Refugees are now wandering aimlessly - in Hendayc. Aiany arc being accommodated in camps outside the town, and hundreds are being distributed in surrounding towns. Refugees arc compelled to surrender their weapons in Hendaye. A hospital has been established in the square to caro for the wounded. Many refugees left for Barcelona by special train, and soon will be lighting again on other fronts. The Government troops into to-night abandoned tho defence of the international bridgehead and retreated to Fort Guadalupe. San Sebastian Next, San Sebastian is the rebels’ next objective. Artillery has already been brought up, aud tho Government lines are under lire, a stream of refugees leaving for the sea. Madrid’s only official 'reference to irun is: “Fighting continues at San Sebastian." it asserts that the fall of irun is not decisive but only au incident in the struggle. The new Spanish Cabinet is credited with the determination of iirmer measures in the prosecution of tho war. Senor Caballero is the most powerful Labour leader in Spain. He has spent much tiiho in tho militia since tho war broke out and, therefore, is conversant with the army's needs. Town Now Heap of BlazingRuins

REBELS CLOSING ON SAN SEBASTIAN. Received Sunday, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 6. Seville wireless reports state that the battleship Fspano sank a Government torpedo boat at Bilbao. It is announced that the insurgents have ordered a crucifix to replace the President’s portrait in all public buildings and schools. A Ilendaye message says tho rebels havo now captured tho bridgehead between Inin and Sat) Sebastian and have begun to bombard Fort Guadalupe. Reinforcements consisting of Foreign Legionaries arc arriving from Pamplona. Tho Daily Telegraph’s special Ilendaye correspondent says Irun, which 21 hours ago was a town of 12,000 inhabitants, is uow a heap of blazing ruins. Not a house remains standing. Anarchists are still holding out amidst the flames. Loyalists’ Grim Fight to Death Received Sunday, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 5. Scattered groups of loyalists on the hillsides still snipe tho roads leading to Irun in which no Government defenders remain. Two hundred loyalists, reinforced by 300 from San Sebastian, made a last stand on the highway until they were mown down with machine-guns. The rebel prisoners at Fort Guadalupe escaped after their liberation by the Basque guard.

Veteran Spanish Diplomat Resigns

Received Sunday, 7.15 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 5. ‘Ambassador Luis Calderon, who had been in tho Spanish diplomatic service for 32 years and who thus far during tho rebellion lias been loyal to the Republican regime, announced his resignation to-day, explaining that he was unablo to co-operato with the newly-instituted Caballero Government. Hew Government Formed SOCIALIST LEADER’S APPOINTMENTS. MADRID, September 4. The Socialist, leader, Senor Caballero, has formed a new Government, 'consisting of six Socialists, two Communists, one Republican Unionist, one Catalanist, two .Left Republicans and one Basque.