Rebels Enter Old City of Bilbao After Long Siege

Northern Advocate, 21 June 1937, Page 5

Rebels Enter Old City of Bilbao After Long Siege

Basques 1 Resist Strongly, But Run Short of Ammunition

(Received 2.30 p.rrT.) LONDON, June 20. \ FTEB a siege which has lasted nearly three months, the Spanish Nationalists (insurgents), according to broadcasts transmitted by them, have entered the old city of Bilbao. The final attack was begun at 1.30 p.m. yesterday, after a mornings bombardment of the surrounding hills by a mixed column of Spanish regulars and Italian legionnaires, assisted by massed tanks. j The Basques resisted strongly. Every cottage had been fortified, but lack of munitions caused the eventual retreat of the defenders, v The troops approaching the old city were held up by throngs of fleeing civilians, whom the Basque Government had ordered to evacuate the city. When the Basques abandoned the old city, they concentrated in the new city on the opposite bank of the river Nervion, which is reported to have been fortified in readiness for further defence.

» Strong Resistance. Nationalist troops crossed the river in pontoons gpid penetrated a quarter of a mile from the river bank. They found the greatest resistance in the heavily-populated quarters of Portugealete and Barcaldo. One of the first acts of the captors was to release 1200 hostages, who were imprisoned on a ship in the river. Three thousand women and children were found taking refuge in the San Tiago which was not damaged. Others hid in covered markets. Several Basque, battalions surrendered and marched through the streets shouting: “Long live Spain.” Haggard and Hungry Refugees. Thousands' of refugees from Bilbao entered the insurgents’ lines at night, and the roads today are packed with haggard and hungry women and children. ravenously devoured bread given to them. The insurgents sent lorries, into which fugitives were packed to hasten them to safety. Among the refugees were 1500 men, sympathisers with £he Nationalists who had just been released from prison. ■ -, L

Scene In Bilbao.

The British United Press correspondent at Bilbao says that six journalists were the first to enter the city. They slipped ahead of the insurgent army, crossed the Nervion, and walked into the streets. ..They found no Basque soldiers, only civilians. Airmen report that the retreating Basque army is now seven miles westward. General Franco has received congratulations from Germany, Italy, Portugal and South America; The ‘‘Daily Telegraph’s” St. Jean de Luz correspondent says the capture of Bilbao has created a situation which may be calamitous. The whole Basque army and the population of five provinces are being rolled back upon Santander, which normally accommodates 83,000. ' Bilbao, just before its fall, could just feed its 500,000 refugees, but could not house them all. Thousands Starving. Tens of thousands lived in the streets. British foodships saved the city from starvation, but now there are no foodships and thousands rushing to Santander, which could not feed them even at normal times, are already starving. The British United Press correspondent says that engineers have begun to build a temporary bridge over the Nervion, repairing the cable and telephone, water and lighting, and soldiers are remoying bodies from railway tunnels, dark alleys and I cellars. Thousands of refugees are now returning.