Government Troops Take Offensive

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 212, 8 September 1936, Page 7

Government Troops Take Offensive

At Four Points

SERIOUS TROUBLE FOR FRANCO IN MOROCCO

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

Received Tuesday, 2 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 7. The Spanish Government claims to have successfully counterattacked in the Talavera sector. The change of Government resulting in a unified command has infused fresh vigour into the loyalists who are taking the offensive in Huesca, Lerida, and Saragossa (in eastern Spain) and Cordoba (near Seville). A Tangier message states that further disquieting reports como from Morocco where the Moorish discontent with General Franco is becoming grave. The sound of heavy gunfire was heard in the direction of Larache, a Moroccan seaport 40 miles south-west of Tangier. Raising Army ©f 500,000 loyalists’ Great Task APPEALING FOR HELP Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 7. The Times’ Madrid Correspondent says the new Government boldly faces the tremendous task ot raising and equipping an army ot half a million with modern armaments, especially aerial. This could be achieved slowly if Spain is compelled to rely on her own resources and rapidly if the arms embargo were raised. In view of this Cabinet is doing its utmost, to press its case ui tne proper quarters abroad. The Spanish Ambassador in Paris is making every effort and the new Ambassador, Signor Azcarrate, will plead Spain’s cause in England. The Commoners - Messrs Hugh Dalton and George Hicks, also Mr. VV. Gillies, chief of the Labour Party’s foreign department, hastened to Paris to consult the French Labour Trade Union leaders concerning the Spanish crisis. They will report thereon on September 9 to the adjourned meeting of the Labour Party and Trades Union Council at Plymouth. £6OO Collected at London Mass Meeting LONDON, Sept. 6. Money for Spanish workers rained upon speakers in Trafalgar Square when 15,C00 people demonstrated in sympathy and support of the National Council of Labour’s Spanish fund. Hundreds of pounds in notes were passed from hand-to-hand collectors in the plinth ot the monument. An anonymous donor gave a cheque for £OO. Five pound notes were frequent. Six hundred pounds was collected before the silver and copper was carried off in bags. A procession of 10,000 marched past the Italian Embassy, which, was heavily guarded by police, shouting, “Stop helping the Spanish Fascists.’' French Leftist Clamour BLUM STANDS BY AGREEMENT PARIS, Sept. 6.

The Premier, M. Blum, who is firmly resisting the Leftists' clamour for intervention in Spain, told a mass meeting of thousands that ho was aware that maintenance of the Spanish Republic guaranteed tu France the security of her southern frontiers and North African communications, but the nonintervention. agreement, which bore, among others, Russia's signature, must uut be repudiated. He would never tolerate inciting conflict, nor would he admit that war was inevitable, despite Left tYing attacks ou his policy. JLebel Ferocity in Morocco DAILY SHOOTINGS AND TORTURE Received Monday, 8.-10 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 7. The Daily Herald's Oran correspondent says a Fascist reign of terror with daily shootings and tortures has been established iu Spanish Morocco. It is openly admitted at Tetuan that thirty to forty aro shot daily by' the rebel commanders' orders for failure to assist their cause. Au cyc-wituess described how the officers shot a widow who was driven'frantic when the tiring squad executed her loyalist husband. Hundreds were forced, to witness the execution of leading Ceuta citizens. The Jewish colony has been robbed of hundreds of thousands sterling. Prisoners are forcibly interned in concentration camps.

The Herald's Tangier correspondent asserts that hugo supplies of petro- 1 i>nd provisions are nightly smuggled to the Spanish rebels from the neutral denationalised Tangier zone where all the

frontier posts are under Italian supervision. Warning to Britons in Madrid PREPARING FOR MUSTARD GAS ATTACKS.

Received Tuesday, 2 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 7. A Madrid message states that the Counsellor at the British Embassy issued a final warning to Britons to evacuate Madrid. He states there is a possibility that the rebels may drop mustard gas bombs on the capital and Britons remaining do so at their own risk. He has been authorised to close the Consulate whenever he wishes. The Mayor of Madrid has issued detailed instructions to deal with gas attacks. He has ordered chemists to remain open day and night and has established first aid stations in various parts of the city,