REBEL ATTACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1937, Page 5

REBEL ATTACKS

FAILURE AT EVERY POINT FALL INTO PREPARED TRAP HEAVY CASUALTIES INFLICTED [United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copy right] (Received 4th May, 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, 2nd May. The Basques commemorated May Day by partly avenging Guernica. They celebrated the destruction of the Espana by an unexpectedly successful counter offensive. “The Times” Bilbao correspondent says the Basques were victorious all along the line, the rebel attacks failing at every point, with the loss of 2500 dead and wounded. Basque reports increase this number to 3500. They intercepted rebel messages for reinforcements and ambulances, and the rebels fell into a carefully prepared trap. Pushing forward along the coastal road from Guernica, they met with no resistance and entered Bermeo, the former headquarters for the evacuation of rerugees. Here Carlist volunteers received reinforcements, only to find themselves encircled by Basque battalions and artillery. CHECK TO INSURGENTS DEFEATED BY PLAIN-CLOTHES SOLDIERS ITALIANS PUT TO FLIGHT LONDON, 2nd May. “The Times” correspondent at Bilbao says that the Basques treated as a picnic an attempted afternoon attack by the insurgents along the Bermeo road. Senor Jose Rezola, the young Secretary for Defence, took a rifle and joined a battalion of plain-clothes soldiers. The insurgents fled, dropping their rifles and abandoning material. Many insurgents were killed. The wounded were admitted to hospital at Bilbao. Senor Rezola returned to the Ministry with booty won from the Italians, consisting of a trench mortar, steel helmet, three rifles, two gas masks, and much ammunition. Italian prisoners described the composition of the fleeing brigade as one-half Spanish, and one-half Italian. On the centre front Government troops defeated the so-called Flechas Negras (“Black Arrows”). These are Spaniards commanded by Italian officers and non-commissioned officers. Desertions from this corps have been numerous. All complain of inability to understand the orders, since the officers learned only Castilian, which is not understood locally. EVACUATION OF BILBAO ASSISTANCE OF BRITAIN OBJECTED TO BY NATIONALISTS LONDON, 2nd May. The British Embassy at Hendaye informed the Foreign Office that the Nationalists (insurgents) strongly object to the decision to help the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao and other Basque ports. The protest is an unpleasant surprise, as it was felt that no objection was possible because of the humanitarian aspect. Preparations proceeding for the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao may result in the greatest oceanic migration in history. The Spanish steamer Habana, 10,551 tons, now at Nervion, and will carry the first batch to France on 4th May. Three thousand children capable of maintaining themselves will participate in the first trip, with 800 to be maintained in France by the General Labour Confederation, which has agreed to provide for a total of 2300.

Mrs Leah Manning, representing the Relief Committee, telegraphed to Sir Walter Citrine (secretary) asking whether the Trades Union Council was willing to do likewise. The Sota family placed a steam yacht at the service of the Basque Government for humanitarian purposes. These and other ships, which will be convoyed by the British Navy, will fly the Saint George’s Cross as a special flag, and as a compliment.

BOMBING OF GUERNICA

LEGITIMATE OBJECTIVE CENTRE OF SMALL ARMS MANUFACTURE (Received 4th May, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, 3rd May. Major Hugh Pollard, in a letter to “The Times,” contends that the bombing of Guernica was not an attack on unimportant civilian town. Guernica was almost as great a centre for small arms manufacture as Eibar. Small workers, outside the numerous main factories, make arms manufacturing a dominant industry in the province of Viscaya. Thus Eibar and Guernica were legitimate objectives. Major Pollard helped General Franco to escape from Teneriffe.

Major Pollard, related last November how, with his daughter Diana, aged 19, and a friend, Dorothy Watson, he enabled General Franco to escape from Teneriffe on the eve of the Spanish revolution. He said as a Catholic he objected to his Spanish friends being slaughtered. He knew General Franco was the only man capable of saving Spain, for which reason his party, accompanied by a Spanish marquis, flew from Croydon in July, and arrived at Las Palmas. They went to Teneriffe by boat, and smuggled messages to Genera] Franco, who visited Las Palmas on the pretext of attending the funeral of the military governor, who had been shot. Major Pollard arranged for his embarkation in an aeroplane, which was flown to Tetuan in easy stages, enabling General Franco to launch the revolution there. QUESTION TO FOREIGN SECRETARY NO CONSIDERED STATEMENT YET [British Oflicinl Wireless] (Received 4th May, 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, 3rd May. To a question in the House of Commons regarding the bombing of Guernica, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Anthony Eden, replied that a telegram had been sent to His Majesty’s Ambassador and Consul at Bilbao requesting them to forward any information which might assist in establishing the facts.

Replies were still being received. “I therefore am not in a position to make a considered statement on the subject,” he added.

The decision of the Government to afford British naval protection to refugee ships from Bilbao was mentioned in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary, who explained that the scheme of evacuation of women and children and old people would apply to persons of all political creeds, and the British Consul would be in close touch with arrangements to ensure impartiality. Mr Eden also informed thi House that a reply had been received from the insurgent authorities rejecting the proposal and making alternative proposals of their own for ensuring the safety of the civilian population. His Majesty’s Government intended, nevertheless, to give the assistance to which he had referred.

BOMBARDMENT OF MADRID

LEAFLETS DROPPED OVER REBEL LINES MADRID, 2nd May. The bombardment continues. Loyalists dropped leaflets over the rebel lines to-day warning “Spaniards serving foreign invaders” that to-day was the anniversary of 2nd May, 1808, when Madrid repelled the invasion of Napoleon’s army. The leaflet added: “Madrid’s defenders are in our camp. Up with your hands. We await you.”

FLEEING ITALIAN SOLDIERS

ATTACKED BY FISHWIVES HURLED INTO SEA AND THROWN FROM WINDOWS (Received Mav. 1.5 p.m.) ST. JEAN DE LUZ, 3rd May. After the Italians fled to Bermeo from the Basques they had to face a further ordeal in the form of heroic local fishwives who, aided by their husbands, fought them hand to hand, threw them into the sea and hurled them from windows of houses in which they took refuge.

SINKING OF ESPANA

MINE OR BOMB? VITTORIA, 3rd May. The insurgent naval staff declares that the Espana was sunk by a mine, one of many laid by rebel minelayers. “The Times” adds that information which reached London indicates that the possibility of the Espana striking a mine has not been ruled out. FRANCO’S ALLEGATIONS DESCRIBED AS “ABSOLUTE RUBBISH” (Received 4th May, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, 3rd May. The British Government received a communication from General Franco alleging that the evacuation is a ruse by the Russians, who are alleged to be in command of Bilbao, to get rid of the civil population and destroy the city and other towns. General Franco adds that he cannot guarantee the safety of the consulates, or undertake not to bomb the port and shipping, as military objectives are situated in the neighbourhood. The Spanish Embassy in London describes the allegations as “absolute rubbish.” It is understood that the British and French arrangements for the evacuation have been completed, and the first contingent of 5000, mainly children, are ready to leave Bilbao. The insurgents made two air bombing raids on Bilbao, little damage being caused.