Blood Flows Freely in Struggle For Madrid
Desperate Cavalry Charge Against Machine Guns Aircraft Take Heavy Toll of Infantry United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright Kcccivcd Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 13. The desperate nnture of the rebel advance from Jarama. can be gauged from the faet that they hurled 1500 cavalry across a wrecked bridge in a half-mile charge across a plain against hills defended by machine guns. The rebels bombarded intensely, under cover*of which the horsemen advanced. The animals stumbled at the bridge, but the majority struggled across and surged forward in a solid mass while machine guns emptied saddle after saddle. Nevertheless, the cavalry reached the foothills and the riders flung themselves oft* and left their horses with liorse-liolders. They advanced on foot with hand grenades and won the crest of the hills. Suddenly five Russian
tanks roared into action from Loyalist positions and shelled the cavalry, the survivors of which galloped for shelter behind a bluff. The tanks then paid attention to the rebel artillery, compelling its partial withdrawal. Loyalist infantry promptly left Vaeiumadrid and traversed the plain under fire until able to occupy the trenches previously prepared, only to be attacked by two rebel regiments numbering 5000 who, crowded into groups between rushes, were subjected to the galling Are of machine guns from 10 Government ’planes, which suddenly swooped down from Vaciamadrid. The ’planes wheeled and returned to the attack to be met with lire from rebel “archies” which earlier had been taken by surprise. One machine gun was blown to bits in mid-air by a direct hit. The remainder of the rebel artillery and tanks attempted to cross the river, but were checked by Loyalists, thus ending the first phase of what Franco hopes will be a decisive battle in his onslaught on Madrid.
BOTH SIDES CLAIM SUCCESSES, HUNDREDS DIE IN AIR RAIDS. Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. MADRID, Feb. 13. The battle for the mastery of the Valencia highway, on which the capital’s food supplies depends, continues. The Government claims that it counter-attacked for twenty-four hours and captured important positions, the booty including two tanks. , The insurgents declare that they repulsed other counterattacks, capturing five tanks and three guns. Reports telephoned to-night state that insurgent motorised forces again attempted to force Jarama in the afternoon and were met by a withering fire from machine guns, mortars rind rifles. Scores of aeroplanes bombed tanks attempting to force the. river. Insurgent aircraft arrived and the Government claims that it crashed three of these ’planes of which one, according to the papers, was piloted by an Italian who was killed. The Government asserts that all attacks were defeated after six hours’ terrific fighting with heavy losses. Meanwhile, Franco’s forces again took the offensive on other sectors near Madrid, making an especial effort to reach tho Aragon highway in the Guadalajara region. Fighting has recommenced at the University City where, in a battle which lasted throughout the night, the Government claims to have recovered the greater part of West Park. The authorities are again urging the voluntary evacuation of non-combatants in order to ease the food problem and avAid the dangers of bombardments and air raids which to-day, it was officially announced, killed 573 civilians (including 161 women and 218 children) and injured 1884, of whom nine hundred were women, since the start of the siege. At Almeria the insurgents bombed the working class killing eight. Other ’planes dropped pamphlets demanding surrender.
SPURRED TO NEW EFFORTS. LONDON, Feb. 12. Tho Madrid correspondent of The Times states that, far from being depressed by the fall of Malaga, the defenders of the capital have been spurred to new efforts, and demand conscription, a single high command, and cessation of party rivalries in order to present an undivided front. They repulsed attacks at Las Rozas and Moncloa, and virtually brought tho rebels to‘a standstill in the Jarama salient. The army which captured Malaga is reported to have included 5000 Moors, 5000 Legionaries, 10,000 Germans, and .15,000 Italians. The insurgents are advancing from Motril to Alicante. The Bishop of Gibraltar has issued a statement supporting the utility of investigating the complicated issues in Spain but deprecating tho Church of England identifying itself with either side. Ho added that foreign interventionists are exploiting the Spaniards. General Franco, broadly speaking, is with tho Spanish Church, which is the true Church of tho country, despite notorious abuses. Spanish Protestants support the Loyalist Government. Tho Pope has sent two Vatican representatives to Spain, one to each Government, while Burgos and Valencia have accredited representatives of the Holy j See. An insurgent court martial at Malaga tried 36 Civil Guards and passed tho death sentence on 27 and imposed life imprisonment on four, while one was sentenced to six years’ gaol. Four were 1 acquitted. Disturbances by rival factions are reported from Catalonia. GERMAN AMBASSADOR APPOINTED. BERLIN, February 12. Herr Foupel has been appointed German ambassador by General Franco’s Government. SUL . .ÜBS OF VALENCIA BOMBARDED. VALENCIA, February 12. The suburbs of Valencia were bom barded at dawn from tho sea and coastal batteries returned tho fire. Litt 1 damage was done. GOVERNMENT SYMPATHISER ARRESTED. GIBRALTAR, February 12. When the rebels entered Malaga they
' arrested as a Government sympathiser, tho noted zoologist, Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell, who was residing there. He ! was released after the intervention of • the British Consul on condition that he ■ left the town immediately. Mitchell l declined to comment on his arrival at , Gibraltar. | CZECHOSLOVAKIA DANGER TO PEACE. I GERMANY ACCUSED OF ENGINi EERING REVOLT. LONDON, Tel). 12. t Lord Rothermere in an article in the Daily Mail bitterly ittacks L Czechoslovakia as the “spurious State of Central European sham, x and a perpetual danger to peace, II which the poace conference was r bluffed into creating. That bluff is now called.’’ Lord Rothermere adds that the ims mense development of Germany Q now threatened the Czechs with 0 retribution, and war clouds hung s heavy over the frontiers. Tho Chronicle’s Paris correspondent says responsible circles in Paris are alarmed at the it .c a--0 tion from various sources suggesty ing that Germany intends making Czechoslovakia a second Spain, and , L is plotting to engineer a evolt. 0 She may be smuggling guns to e German and Hungarian minorities. s Following the Spanish precedent, 0 Germany and Hungary would n"t intervene officially, but would support a revolt with war materials and volunteers, while pretending non-intervention. Germany thus hopes to reshape Czechoslovakia without open invasion which would mean a European war. She seeks tc buy off Poland, offering I her tho Teschen district. ■ s Dr. Benes had a long conference with the chief of the French military mission. It has ocen stated in Paris that Germany serious» v miscalculated if she expects France to accept another experience of nonintervention. 1 d t- CZECH ASMY TO BE INc±tx,^«.^^.
Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. PRAGUE, Feb. 13. Cabinet has authorised an increase in tho strength of the standing army from y 150,000 to an unlimited number “in
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Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 7
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1,168Blood Flows Freely in Struggle For Madrid Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 7
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