WAR IN SPAIN FRENCHMAN WOUNDED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 17 December 1936, Page 7

WAR IN SPAIN

FRENCHMAN WOUNDED

DEAD BRITISH AIRMAN

PRISONERS AND HOSTAGES

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

MORE MEN FOR FRANCO CONTINUAL STREAM FROM GERMANY (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 16th December. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent says it is reliably reported that General Franco informed the German Government that he requires 60,000 more men to win the war in Spain. The correspondent adds that volunteers are leaving Germany for Spain in a continual stream, mostly members of the Air Force and tank regiments, who travel in small groups in civilian clothes through Austria to Genoa, being shipped from there to Spain. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent states that there are persistent rumours that the Catalan Republican Party is attempting to negotiate with General Franco for a separate peace, in return for guarantees that the Nationalists will recognise complete independence of territory.

TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT MADRID, 16th December. The “Daily Mail’s” Salamanca cor respondent discloses that Holland’s papers showed that the Government engaged him on 27th November at £220 a month with living accommodation, £24 for a first-class fare home, and a premium of £3OO for every rebel machine brought down, also compensation of £IOOO for incapacitation from wounds, and £ 1500 to the next-of-kin in the event of death.

Sydney Henry Holland, who recently went to Spain with other British airmen, was kilkyl on the Vittoria front, when rebel fighters repulsed a loyalist attack. Holland’s plane, piloted by a Russian with a Spanish observer was brought down by machinegun fire and he was incinerated.

BOMBS NEAR INTERNATIONAL TUNNEL (Received 17th December, 9.45 aim.) PARIS, 16th December. “L’lntransigeant” states that four Spanish insurgent planes dropped a number of bombs in the neighbourhood of the international tunnel at Portbou, on the Franco-Spanish frontier, wounding a Frenchman in French territory.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR TRANSFER (British Official Wireless) (Received 17th December, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, 16th December. Questioned in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Anthony Eden, referred to the negotiations in train for the complete exchange of prisoners and hostages between the Basque and neighbouring territories in Spain and stated that at the request of both sides, British ships had undertaken to give their fullest co-operation in carrying out the exchange.

ALTERATION OF STATUS QUO OF CLOSEST CONCERN TO BRITAIN (Received 17th December, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, 16th December. Asked in the House of Commons the precise terms of the guarantee given by the Italian Government regarding the Balearic Islands, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Anthony Eden, said that these assurances were verbal. His Majesty’s Charge D’Affaires in Rome, Mr Edward Ingram, informed the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, on 12th September, that any alteration of the status quo in the western Mediterranean would be a matter of closest concern to His Majesty’s Government. Count Ciano assured Mr Ingram that the Italian Government had not either. before or since the revolution in Spain engaged in any negotiations with General Franco whereby the quo in the western Mediterranean would be altered, nor would they engage in any such negotiations in the future. This assurance was subsequently reaffirmed spontaneously to the British Naval Attache in Rome by the Italian Ministry of Marine.