Franco's Grip on Spain

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 5

Franco's Grip on Spain

Tactics at Barcelona GOVERNMENT RE-ORGANISING United Pre*s Association —By El •Ctrl* T ei earrm ph.-—Copyrlah t. Received Tuesday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, April 5.

The Daily Telegraph's Lerida correspondent says that, with the capture of Lerida, General .Franco is master of 30 of Spam's 50 provincial capitals. It is reported from Saragossa that the Nationalists entered Tortosa. Franco has issued an order not to bomb or shell Barcelona at present, as he hopes to isolate the city, enabling the moderate Catalans to take over and in\ite him to maintain order, involving unconditional surrender.

The British United Press correspondent at Barcelona says the Republican Government is re-organising and Senor Negria is taking over the Ministry oi Deieuce in addition to the Premiership ad the Ministry of Finance.

Republicans, holding a position east of Lerida, repulsed insurgent attacks. The Government iorces, continuing the offensive at Guadalajara, iraptured Mocasilla. The cavalry advaueed several miles, capturing the slopes of Yald&lagua. H.M.S. HOOD AT BARCELONA EVACUATION DISCUSSED (British Official Wireless.) Received Tuesday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, April 4. H.M.S. Hood has arrived at Barcelona, where the commander will discuss wi‘h the British authorities there tho question of the safety of British nationals and arrange for an early evacuation should the necessity arise. DUKE OF ALBA S POSITION NO DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION (British Official Wireless.) Received Tuesday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, April 4. Answering House of Commons’ questions regaruing Die status of the Duke of Alba in Britain, Mr. R. A. Butler, Under-JSecretary for Foreigu Affhirs, stated that diplomatic status had not been conceded to the Duke of Alba as General Franco's representative in Britain any more than to Mr. Hodgson, the British agent in Nationalist Spam. But, as it had been necessary to secure certain privileges for Mr. Hodgson and his stalf, so privileges had been conceded in London to the Duke of Alba. Much concessions involved no admissions of diplomatic status on either side. Referring to the proposed appointment of a British arbitrator for the exchange of Spanish prisoners, Mr. Butler said Sir Philip Chetwode would take up the duties as soon as the Spanish Government’s reply had been received. An affirmative answer had already i been received from General Franco's) administration. -SPAIN FOR THE SPANISH" THE ITALIAN FORMULA Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m. ROME, April 5. “With the approaching end of the war in Spain the Spanish question will be solved according to the Italian formula—Spain for the Spanish, " declares the publicist Signor V. Gayda in a Government-inspired article in the Giornale d’ltalia. He adds: “This formula promises tranquility in Spain." Credit for Lerida’s fall is largely given to Italian troops. DELIBERATE ATTACKS ON BRITISH SHIPS PROTEST TO GENERAL FRANCO LONDON, April 4. The captains of five British merchantmen at Tarragona have informed the British Government that aeroplanes daily are deliberately attacking them. The Government has asked General Franco to order the immediate cessation of the attacks. CANADIANS IN SPAIN CAPTURED BY REBELS OTTAWA, April 4. Radical friends of 50 Canadians who were captured by the nationalists in Spain are appealing to the Prime Minister to intercede for them, creating a dilemma for the Government. The same parties previously have vehemently demanded that there should be no recognition of the nationalists. Advices received by the Government state that Canadians who joined the loyalists forswore their Canadian citizenship and swore loyalty to Valencia and the People’s Front. There is a strong agitation throughout the Dominion for their classification as Communists and that they shall not bs readmitted unless they take the oath of loyalty to the King. HUNT FOR LOYALIST SNIPERS LONDON, April 4. A message from Saragossa reports that the rebels are rooting out in a house-to-house search the few remaining loyalist snipers who prefer death to retreat from Lerida. The main rebei body in the campaign is on the outskirts, while tanks, which have been active all night, patrol the city protecting the shock troops and the civil guards who are doing police duty. The loyalists * last stand was desperate. Eighty-five bodies were found dfrewn in a single trench. A Lisbon message reports that it is estimated that 7612 Spanish refugee?, including 5565 militiamen, have been repatriated from France since April 2. Additional soldiers are being repatriated as they arrive, but civilians are sent to districts in central France, which is nowr glorious with the spring