MORE SUCCESSES FOR REBELS

Northern Advocate, 26 October 1936, Page 5

MORE SUCCESSES FOR REBELS

From The War Zone

PLANES DEMONSTRATE OVER MADRID

[United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright J

(Received 10 a.m.)

LONDON, October 24. MESSAGE from Burgos, Northern Spain, states that the rebels, headed by eight tanks and assisted by bombers, captured Sevena, situated within two miles of the motor road between Madrid and Aranjuez, a few miles to the south. The rebels also occupied Borox, eight miles west of Aranjuez. A rebel airman claims to have set fire to two Austrian airships, over the Madrid racecourse.

Through Second Line of Defence. In a communique from Seville, the insurgents claim to have captured Mostoles, 12 miles from Madrid, and to have pierced the loyalists’ second line of defence.

The Madrid Government claims to be generally holding General Franco’s troops and to have repulsed attacks in the Illescas area between Madrid and Toledo. „

A radio station at Corunna announces that 100 rebel.aeror planes flew over Madrid last evening. The airmen dropped showers of pamphlets, urging the the surrender of the city. Fifty more aeroplanes this morning made a similar demonstration. They flew low and were received with cheers.

Franco’s Plans.

According to messages from the insurgents’ headquarters, at Lisbon, General Franco has no intention of bombarding , Madrid except as a last resource. He expects, the fall of Escorial, 35 miles west of the capital, at any moment. After that he says he will consolidate his forces and despatch an ultimatum to Madrid, demanding its immediate surrender. In the event of surrender, he will spare the city.

Three Australian nurses and’ one New Zealander, Miss Wilson, sailed from Sydney on Saturday for Spain, to aid the Spanish Government, “wherever it may be pursued by the rebel forces.” •

The United States Embassy at Madrid may be reopened as a refuge for United States citizens, in view of the serious military situation and the possibility of disturbances in the Spanish capital, says a Washington despatch. Mr Wendelin, third secretary at the Embassy announced this today. He will use the authority to reopen it if conditions warrant that action.