FIGHT FOR BILBAO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 28 April 1937, Page 6

FIGHT FOR BILBAO

FRANCO’S DESPERATE BID i FORMER HORRORS SURPASSED [United Press Association--Il.v Electric Telegraph Copyright 1 ißeceivecl 28th April. 1.30 p.m. I LONDON. 27th April. The "Daily Telegraph’s" Bilbao corlespondent says that after witnessing | the destruction at Durango. Eibar, Guernica. Bolivar. Arbacequi and | Guerricaiz. declares that all the vious horrors attendant on the ..ipturej of Irun and Malaga and the seige of Madrid were surpassed in General | Franco’s desperate bid tor Bilbao, most! of whose defenders swear that they will die lighting before tney surrender/ General Mola’s troops, some of whose formations have lost 8 per cent. of their number, are blasting their way forward with incendiary and explosive bombs. The plan for starving out Bilbao has now been defeated, owing to the arrival of supply ships. The Air Minister, Senor Prieto, arrived at Bilbao with 32 aeroplanes, with which the Basques hope to regain the mastery of the air. "The Times” Bilbao correspondent says that the Guernica attack exemplifies an operation unparalleled in history. It was not a military objective. The object was vcngefully to destroy the cradle of the Basque race, choosing the market day when crowds filled the town. The attack was opened by a German bomber. Then parties ol ’planes selected area after area and scattered bombs and grenades over the town. The fighting planes ma-chine-gunned those fleeing panic-stric-ken from the dugouts. which were penetrated by bomb holes. German airmen, in an apparent lust for slaughter. massacred a large herd ot sheep going to market. The raiders destroyed three hospitals. one of which was a convent, killing the majority of the wounded occupants. who numbered at least 100. A rebel bomb killed an elderly parish priest named Aronategui at the assault on Guernica. The priest was rescuing terrified children from a burning house. CASUALTIES AT MADRID (Received 28th April. 1.5 pm.) MADRID. 27th April. Thirty-two were killed and fifty-seven wounded in to-day's air raids. ROYAL OAK TAKES OVER PATROL DUTIES (Received 28th April. 1.5 p.m.) ST. JEAN DE LUZ. 27th April. FI.M.S. Royal Oak arrived and has taken over patrol duties from FI.M.S. Hood.