DEFENCE OF MADRID

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 March 1937, Page 5

DEFENCE OF MADRID

“ITALIANS WON’T PASS” WHILE LIVING MEN REMAIN (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 17th March, 10.15 a.m.) MADRID. 16th March. Interviewed by the “ParisSoir’s” Madrid correspondent General Miaja said: “Spain to-day is invaded by regular Italian and German troops, but the Spanish people won’t give way. Spain isn’t Abyssinia and as long as there are living men in front of i Madrid the Italians won’t pass.” j' MADRID AGAIN BOMBED ! j (Received 17th March, 10.15 a.m.) h MADRID, 16th March. j. For the first time for a fortnight in- i surgent planes bombed the centre of . Madrid last night. : ESTMATE OF CASUALTIES | MADRID, 16th March, j The newspaper “La Voz” states that j rebel air raids on the capital killed | 1407, and wounded 3488 from 23rd October to 28th February. REBEL CONCENTRATIONS BOMBED HAVOC AND SLAUGHTER (Received 17th March, 2 p.m.) VALENCIA, 16th March. Pressing home the advantages gain- 1 ed by the international columns, 55 \ Loyalist aeroplanes raided rebel concentrations round Brihuega, dropped ■ 820 bombs and machine-gunned rebel , trenches, creating havoc and slaught- : er for five hours. Italian prisoners i will be spared and will be released . at the end of the war and allowed j to go home. ' SEVERAL KILLED AND INJURED < SAILING SHIP SUNK j (Received 17th March, 10.15 a.m.) ( BARCELONA, 16th March. Five insurgent aeroplanes bombed . the harbour and city. Four v/ere killed and thirteen injured. A sailing ship was sunk. ARMIESIXHAUSTED REBELS PREPARING FURTHER ATTACK MADRID A VERITABLE FORTRESS MADRID, 15th March. The insurgents, after Saturday’s retreat, are reforming behind their original lines with a view to delivering a counter-attack. Meanwhile the loyalists are bombing all rebel troop concentrations. The position is generally unchanged, both sides\demanding a rest after the savage and exhausting interchange of attack and counter-attack. A novelty of the defence of Madrid is a propaganda gun which hurls leaflets, newspapers, and photographs of captured Italians into the rebel lines. Madrid is now a veritable fortress. The city is short of food but crammed ; with ammunition, and is prepared to withstand to the' last the most desperate rebel attack. USE OF FOREIGN FUG SHIP ESCAPING FROM AN ENEMY RIGHT OF LAW (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 15th March. The use of the British flag on a Spanish vessel in a recent incident in Spanish waters Was the subject of a question inthe House of Commons. | The Under-Secretary for Foreign j Affairs, Lord Cranborne, in reply, described the circumstances in whicn destroyers were sent in response to distress signals to the assistance of a vessel using the call-sign of a British steamship. Before these arrived it was . learned that the ship in question was foreign, and it was understood to have been the Spanish steamer Marcantabrico. “The employment of ruses such as the use of a neutral flag by a merchant ship in order to escape capture by an enemy,”’ Lord Cranborne added, “is a right which is well established under international law, and this case would not therefore justify the representations winch were suggested by the questioner.” NON-INTERVENTION APPLICATION OF AGREEMENT QUESTION OF FINANCIAL AID DISCUSSION ENDS IN DEADLOCK | 'British Official Wireless) (Received 17th March, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, 16th March. < A communique states that at a j meeting of the sub-committee of the International Committee for the appli- 1 cation of the agreement regarding non-intervention in Spain, it is un- j derstood that the question of financial j aid to either parties in the Spanish 1 conflict was under discussion, and the Soviet Note to Lord Plymouth (chairman) was before the meeting. Russia, while agreeing to discuss this question in principle, indicated that she declined to agree to any discussion affecting the assets of the Spanish Government, including gold of the Bank of Spain. A debate ensued, but no solution was reached. Further outstanding questions not directly affecting launching of the supervision scheme were down lot discussion, but the Italian and German representatives refused to proceed with these matters in view of the deadlock on the financial aid question.