Loyalists’ Terrific Resistance

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 7

Loyalists’ Terrific Resistance

But Rebels Triumph In Assault on Lerida MADRID AGAIN BOMBARDED United Press Association—By El*ctr!o Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 7.50 p.m. SARAGOSSA, April 4. The Moors stormed the trenches on 'the Saragossa side of Lerida, but until 4 p.m. the loyalists maintained a terrifi: resistance, rallying for a last counterattack at 6.30, which the rebels met by charging with fixed bayonets behind tanks. The loyalists wore overcome and abandoned the struggle. They fled across the River Segre, and the rebels entered Lerida. A message from Perpignan states that rebel aircraft, after flying over France,, severely bombed Port Bou in order to prevent the return to the garrison at Barcelona of 4500 disarmed loyalists from Luchon.

Only 168 with families in General Franco’s territory chose to return to rebel Spain. A Madrid report states that in retaliation for the Guadalajara operations, which the loyalists are still pressing, new rebel batteries, installed by Germans, bombarded the capital for 75 minutes, killing 75 and wounding 200. The Republican communications between Valencia and Barcelona are now confined to a bottleneck, the closing of whieh will cut off their last lifeline between Barcelona and Madrid. The rebels have captured Morade Ebro; also Cherta Pinell. Britishers’ Experiences.

A further message from Saragossa states that 96 British prisoners, part of a battalion of the International Brigade who were captured during the advance in Catalonia, have arrived there —a motley crowd with cropped heads and unshaven faces and wearing nondescript clothing. A Londoner, John Myers, said they were supposed to be advancing to a new position east of Alcaniz and were ordered to fall out, being told that a mechanised column was coming. Suddenly insurgent tanks appeared round a bend in the road. “We had no alternative,” he said, “but to surrender. I don’t believe more volunteers would come to Spain if we could return home and tell of our experiences. We were regarded just as cannon-fodder.’’ The majority of the Britishers were previously unemployed. The special courts established at Madrid to deal with cases of spying, treason, and defeatism condemned eight men and two women to terms of imprisonment varying from six to thirty years. General Franco’s forces claim that they defeated the International Brigade in violent counter-attacks at Lerida, also that they captured Benabarre, near the Catalan border. ADVANCE TO COAST VANGUARD 18 MILES TO GO LONDON, April 3. It is officially announced from Saragossa that, entering by three routes, the rebels captured Lerida at 7 p.m. General Franco’s advance column is now 18 miles from the seaboard. Forty thousand rebel troops attacked Lerida. The defenders numbered 20,000. The Saragossa correspondent of The Times states that rebel divisions captured Batea, 25 miles north-east of Alcaniz, and vanquished four international brigades, killing 500 and taking 2500 prisoners. A further detachment of English volunteers has surrendered to tlie Italians.