ANOTHER INCIDENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 21 June 1937, Page 5

ANOTHER INCIDENT

TORPEDOES FIRED AT GERMAN CRUISER BY SPANISH GOVERNMENT SUBMARINE REPORT FROM BERLIN [United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph-Copy rightl BERLIN, 19th June. An official report states t hat a Spanish Government submarine fired three torpedoes at the cruiser Leipzig off Oran on the morning of 15tli June, two coming in quick succession and the third half-an-liour later. Another torpedo was fired at the Leipzig on the afternoon of 18th June. All missed.

The report says it will be the duty of the patrolling powers to take requisite measures in accordance with the agreement. Germany at any rate is unwilling to look on the practice of shooting by Spanish and Bolshevik U boats until they score a hit. When the news was received in Berlin Herr Hitler was en route to Dusseldorf. He immediately returned to Berlin, where he conferred with Marshal von Blomberg, Defence Minister, and Admiral Raeder and Baron von Neurath, Foreign Minister, until 3.30 a.m. The conference was resumed today, when General Goering, who meanwhile had flown to Berlin, participated. Herr von Ribbentrop, Ambassador at London, informed representatives of Britain, France and Italy and other patrolling powers of the incident, The report stated that the commander of the Leipzig reported from Oran that the paths of the torpedoes Were followed by sound apparatus.

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER

GERMAN ALLEGATIONS MINIMISED , MADRID, 19th June. Officials disclaim knowledge of the submarine attack on the Leipzig. A spokesman said too much credence cannot be placed on German allegations after the Almeria bombardment, which they are apparently attempting to justify. Germany is obviously seeking to sway world opinion in her favour, while her warplanes and Krupp’s artillery are bombarding Bilbao.

REBELS ENTER BILBAO SPANISH REGULARS AND ITALIAN LEGIONARIES BASQUES SHORT OF AMMUNITION LONDON, 20th June. After a siege lasting nearly three months the Spanish insurgent forces, according to broadcast messages from rebel radio stations, have entered the old city of Bilbao. The final attack began at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday after a ►morning’s bombardment from the hillsides. The invaders comprised a mixed column of Spanish regulars and Italian Black Arrow legionaries, assisted by massed tanks. The Basques resisted strongly. Every cottage had been fortified, but lack of munitions caused their eventual retreat. Troops approaching the old city were held Up by throngs of fleeing civilians, whom the Basque Government had ordered to evacuate the city. The defenders have abandoned the old city and are concentrating on the new city on the opposite bank of the River Nervidn. It is reported that the new city is fortified in readiness for further defence. Rebel troops crossed the river in pontoons and penetrated a quarter of a mile from the riverbank. They found the greatest resistance in the heaVilypopulated Portugalete and Barcaldo quarters. Ohe of the first acts of the captors was to release 1200 hostages imprisoned in a ship on the river. Three thousand women and children were found taking refuge in the Santiago Cathedral, which was not damaged. BASQUE RESISTANCE BROKEN DESPERATE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING EXPLODED MINE CAUSES HAVOC LONDON, 18th June. Amid an inferno of hand-to-hand fighting, with grenades and sticks of dynamite whistling in the air and war 'planes swooping and using their machine-guns, General Franco’s troops broke the last Basque resistance in the Santo Domingo hills, half a mile northeast of Bilbao, where they had been checked for a week by the Basques, states a “Daily Telegraph” correspondent at Santo Domingo. Yesterday the Basques deserted their trenches, leaving only a handful of Asturian miners, who rushed out and hurled dynamite sticks. The Nationalists entered the abandoned trenches and had begun to consolidate them when a mine was fired from the rear ahd exploded the whole section, the Spanish regulars being blown to death Rebel tanks speeded on, and the infantry surrounded the last loyalist redoubt, where the Asturian volunteers died game to the last. The Nationalists also captured the suburb of Duesto, the Basque troops .escaping. The 'oss of the Santo Domingo oosttion entails the fall of Bilbao. The Nationalists only require to take another hill and cut the Santander lead to encircle Bilbao, which they intend to force to surrender by shortage of food. The defenders are reported to have lost 5000 in killed and 17,000 in wounded prior to the final attacks. NATIONALISTS ENTERING BILBAO GIBRALTAR, 19th June. Nationalist wireless stations announce the fall of Bilbao, which Nationalists are entering. FRANCO CONGRATULATED (Received 21st June, 10.40 a.m.) SALAMANCA, 20th June. General Franco received congratulations from Germany, Italy, Portugal and South America. REPAIR WORK COMMENCED (Received 21st June,( 10.20 a.m.) BILBAO, 20lh June. The British United Press correspondent says engineers began the erection of a temporary bridge over the river Nervlon, and are repairing the cable,

telephone, water and lighting. Soldiers are removing bodies from railway tunnels, dark alleys, and cellars, presumably those of executed people. Thousands of refugees are not returning. JOURNALISTS FIRST TO ENTER CITY (Received 21st June, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, 20th June. The British United Press correspondent at Bilbao says that half a dozen journalists were really the first to enter the city. They slipped in ahead of the insurgent army, crossed the Nervion River and walked down the streets. They found no Basque soldiers, but only civilians, who welcomed them. Airmen report that the retreating Basque army is now about seven miles westward. FOOD SHORTAGE MANY REFUGEES STARVING SERIOUS SITUATION MAY DEVELOP (Received 21st June, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, 20th June. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent at St. Jean De Luz says that the capture of Bilbao created a situation which may be calamitous, the whole Basque army and the population of five provinces being rolled back upon Santander, which normally accommodates 83,000. Bilbao, just before its fall, could just feed its 500,000 refugees but could not house them all and tens of thousands lived in the streets. British food ships saved the city from starvation. Now there are no food ships. Tens of thousands rushing to Santander, which could not feed them even in normal times, are already starving.

REFUGEE CHILDREN BREAKING THE NEWS CAREFULLY WORDED BROADCAST PATHETIC SCENES WITNESSED (Received 21st June, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, 20th June. The authorities, believing there might be trouble if the news of the fall of Bilbao was withheld from the Basque children, broadcast it carefully worded to avoid shock. “We much regret to announce that enemy troops are now in Bilbao. It is perhaps small comfort to know that by now many of your relatives and friends will be safe in Santander, and for those who remain in Bilbao there is at least not now much danger from bombs. We British people caring for you cannot express too strongly our sympathy. We ask you all to remain calm. You can rely on us to do our best for you on behalf of your parents.” The children stoned the van when it turned on the music, and then fled. Nearly all the children were rounded up in the morning, but some older boys are still missing. It is learned that the whole camp was crying before the news bulletin was finished last evening. Some fainted and others became hysterical and many started frantically packing their small belongings. The dominating thought of the children who broke camp was to go home and help mother. OUTBREAK OF TERROR 500 CHILDREN DASH FROM CAMP MANY STILL MISSING (Received 21st June, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 20th June, Terrible scenes occurred at the North Stoneham camp when the Basque children heard the news that Bilbao had fallen. Complete terror broke out when the refugees heard the broadcast from the van. Five hundred children, apparently seized vjth mass hysteria, dashed from the camp. Some wore stated to be armed with tableknives. Police, ambulance men, and others rounded up many on the roads and adjacent woods, but 150 were still missing at 3.40 a.m. Volunteers continued to search throughout the night. ARREST OFLOYALISTS ALLEGED SPIES MANY ARMY OFFICIALS MADRID, 18th June. Two hundred persons have been arrested, including many holding positions in the loyalist army, on allegations of espionage on behalf of General Franco. The Spanish Press agency states that the prisoners, among whom are several Spanish Fascists, were sending Wireless messages daily to General Franco giving the positions of the Madrid fronts, and the position of antiaircraft batteries, and movements of troops, and also preparing an armed rising with the co-operation of leaders of the Trotsky party. The conspirators are alleged to have obtained positions in the Republican brigades. Many of these were arrested while refugees at the Peruvian Legation, where important documents, some of which had been stolen from the

General Staff, were found, including a map of Madrid containing details and a message inserted in invisible ink. It is also alleged that the alleged spies worked from the Chilean and Norwegian Embassies. Other arrests have been made at Valencia and Barcelona. They include Senor Andres Nin, leader of the Spanish Trotskyites. NEW PROBLEM PATROLLING POWERS [British Official Wireless] (Received 2lst June, 10.53 a.m.) RUGBY, 19th June. With reference to reports issued in London on behalf of the Basque Government that the British battleship Resolution had signalled a message to the captain of the Spanish liner Habana that the British Government had forbidden the battleship to escort that vessel, it was emphasised here that no change whatever had been made in the arrangements whereby protection is afforded to ships transporting refugees from Bilbao to French and British ports. In recent weeks nearly 30,000 non-combatant refugees had been evacuated in vessels under the protection of British ships and under the supervision of His Majesty’s Consul at Bilbao.

A new problem has now arise in connection with the request to protect vessels carrying refugees from Santander to France. Transportation from Santander was not contemplated in the original agreement, and it is recognised that this question must receive grave consideration. The British and French Governments are therefore in close consultation to discover how best the problem can be solved. The position is that until the British and French Governments are able to arrange for effective protection at the port of embarkation, and until it is known that the French Government is in' a position to receive refugees from Santander, it is felt that the Habana should not be allowed to sail under British protection. Meanwhile these matters are receiving earnest attention. One of the main difficulties arises from the fact that there is now no British Consul at Santander to supervise the evacuations and it is understood that the French Government have no official in that port. MEETING IN LONDON In response to Germany’s request the patrolling powers will meet in London.