FIGHT FOR MADRID

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 November 1936, Page 7

FIGHT FOR MADRID

LITTLE CHANGE IN POSITION CAPITAL AGAIN SHELLED REBELS CLAIM CAPTURE OF WEST PARK (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MADRID, 24th November. The capital was again shelled during a three hour battle at the University city, where dynamite was used against tanks. The rebels attacked, but were driven off. (Received 26th November, 9.25 a.m.) MADRID, 25th November. Beyond the rebels’ claim to have captured the important West Park in the north-west sector there is little change in the position of the capital. .Police at Cartagena allege that they unearthed a vast Nazi espionage and propaganda organisation, and that the German Consulate is a veritable arsenal. The insurgents claim to have captured near Barcelona a Norwegian steamer laden with munitions and likewise forced a Greek steamer to divert her course to Ceuta. NAVAL ATTACKS IMMINENT Radio messages from Teneriffe announce that naval attacks on Barcelona and Valencia are imminent. Nine hundred and sixty prisoners, mostly former Fascist officers belonging to General Franco’s secret force at Madrid, were evacuated from the model prison and sent to Valencia, forestalling General Franco’s attempt to capture the model prison and release them. LOYALIST WARSHIP TORPEDOED LONDON; 25th November. The “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent has excellent authority for stating that the loyalist warship Cervantes was torpedoed by a Spanish submarine which went over to the insurgents last week.

FLEET MOVEMENTS AT MALTA SENSATIONAL INTERPRETATIONS IN PRESS NOT JUSTIFIED BY FACTS (British Official Wireless) Received 26th November, 12.7 p.m.) RUGBY, 25th November. Sensational interpretations were >laced in press messages upon certain •outine ship movements at Malta. The acts are that the warship Cyclops, the lepot ship of the First Submarine iTotilla, left Malta for Alicante to reieve H.M.S. Woolwich. This type of vessel, owing to the accommodation ivailable, has proved of particular use or evacuation of refugees. Within he next two days H.M.S. Galatea, the : lagship of Rear-Admiral Somerville, ! ommanding the destroyer flotillas, ; eaves Malta to relieve H.M.S. Are- : husa and the First Destroyer Flotilla i tow off the coast of Spain. IUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS NO BAN ON FOODSTUFFS OR COAL Received 26th November, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, 25th November. Several questions regarding the situition in Spain were answered by Mr \nthony Eden, Foreign Secretary, in ;he House of Commons. He stated ;hat the proposed ban on the con/eyance of war material to Spain by British vessels would not apply to commodities such as foodstuffs and coal. ARREST OF NORWEGIAN VESSEL Referring to the report of the arrest oy Spanish rebel warships of the Norwegian vessel Lisken, Mr Eden said he understood the master of the ship had informed the Naval authorities at Gibraltar that on 15th November he was stopped and interrogated by two Spanish armed trawlers about ten miles off Cape Finisterre and ordered to proceed in company with one of them to Vigo. The master refused on the grounds that he was outside territorial waters. An armed guard was placed on board the Norwegian ship and she was taken to Vigo, where the cargo of seed potatoes, consigned to the agricultural department of the Spanish Government, was confiscated. DAMAGED WARSHIP ’ Sir Samuel Hoare, First Lord of the Admiralty, stated that reports received from H.M.S. - Glowworm indicated that the Spanish Government warship Miguel de Cervantes was damaged at the entrance to Carthagena harbour on 22nd November, and that the damtge was consistent with a torpedo attack. Mr Noel Baker referred to reports that the Spanish Government had obtained pieces of the torpedo which caused damage and asked if it were not of vital interest to the powers, including Britain, that the facts of the case should be established. Sir Samuel Hoare replied: “It is of vital interest to the British Government that we should not interfere. I have po information to justify my expressing any opinion about the matter.” ARMS ANiTmUNITIONS SEIZED AT MARSEILLES - SAID TO BE CONSIGNED TO MEXICO (Received 26th November, 9.25 a.m.) MARSEILLES, 25th November. Police seized a motor convoy containing 200 tons of bombs, shells and machine-guns, said to be consigned to Mexico. There are two vessels loading in the harbour allegedly for Spain. SOVIETHELP MORE ACTIVE MEASURES MUNITIONS AND TROOPS REPORT FROM PARIS LONDON, 24th November. The “Daily Mail’s” Paris correspondent says it is reported that the Soviet

has decided on more active and immediate measures to help Madrid and will send arms, munitions, armoured cars, technicians and troops in ships sailing by convoy, guarded by Soviet battleships and submarines.

HUMANITARIAN WARFARE URGED BY COMMONERS REPLY BY GENERAL FRANCO

LONDON, 24th November.

Replying to telegrams which were forwarded to both sides by 160 British members of Parliament, urging humanitarian warfare, General Franco regrets that the telegram was addressed in the same terms to his “legitimate Government,” and to the mob of Reds and Anarchists who are responsible for Spain’s abuses.

ITALIAN PURCHASES OF WHEAT

LONDON, 25th November. The “Financial Times” says that 24,001 tons of Australian wheat were purchased in the London market yesterday by Italian agents. Some is already afloat and the remainder is loading.

A London message dated 23rd November stated that the impression prevails in London grain markets that Signor Mussolini was feeding General Franco’s troops owing to the purchases of Australian and Argentinian wheat when Italian granaries should be full from its own harvest.

THE BALEARIC. ISLANDS NO INTERFERENCE WITH STATUS QUO ASSURANCES BY ITALY (British Official Wireless) (Received 26th November, 12.7 p.m.) RUGBY, 25th November. Signor Grandi, Italian Ambassador, in London, and Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister in Rome, have volunteered the most binding assurances that the Italian Government have neither the desire nor the intention to interfere in any way with the status quo of the Balearic Islands.