SPAIN'S CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 9

SPAIN'S CRISIS

FIERCE FIGHTING TOWN NEAR GIBRALTAR BRITONS WATCH SCENE MANY DEAD IN STREETS ARABS HELP REBELS Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 20, r>.ar> p.m.) Times Cable LONDON, July 20 The Gibraltar correspondent of the Times says fighting has been resumed at La Linea, a few miles north of Gibraltar, between rebel troops, including 1700 Arabs who have arrived from Morocco by transport, and Left Wing loyalists. Many British residents, with the aid of field-glasses, watched from the frontier and saw people falling from houses and terraces as the rebels replied to counter-attacks with artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire.

The streets of La Linea are reported to be littered with dead. Heavy fighting was in progress at midnight and two Britons—a man and a womanwere wounded. Mr. Edward Marshall, formerly manager of the Gibraltar branch of the Y M C.A.. was conveyed to Gibraltar from La Linea and sent to hospital suffering from bullet wounds. Two British warships are standing by in order to evacuate British nationals from Spanish territory if necessary. Hundreds of Spaniards are fleeing to Gibraltar. Yorkshire light infantrymen, wearing steel helmets, assisted the police to guard the frontier. A small detachment of Arabs in the village of Campamento ordered a crowd of spectators to disperse. They refused, whereupon the Arabs bombed and machine-gunned them, killing many. The Madrid correspondent of the Times says the Government declares that the' Navy is entirely loyal and that the rebels have been defeated nt Puertollano, Barcelona and San Sebastian. STILL AN INFERNO WIDESPREAD SAVAGERY MANY CITIES INVOLVED (Received July 20, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 20 The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail says Spain is still an inferno of rebellion and savagery, after 48 hours of bloodshed and lawlessness. Every imnortant. cit.v. ex:cent. Madrid, where the Communist militia control the streets, is under rebel influence. Malaga, the scene of fierce fighting, is partly on fire. Twenty-five loyalist workers in the British-owned Bio Tinto Mines, armed with dynamite, were ambushed and killed by rebels at La Panoleta.

MOB LAW PREVAILS GIBRALTAR SITUATION ERITISH WARSHIPS STAND BY GIBRALTAR, July 19 British police at Gibraltar are warning British subjects that it will be dangerous to proceed beyond the frontier town of La Linea after to-day After a period of mob law in which Fascists'"houses and cars were burned, two British destroyers are standing by in the event of the necessity of evacuating British subjects who have left their summer residences in Spanish territory in order to take refuge at Gibraltar.

British refugees from Laraiche say there was severe fighting there. The Government is using the weapon of the general strike to kill the insurrection, and orders have been broadcast to trades unions to strike in any area where Fascists have declared a state of war. For instance, the railway unions have ordered their members to "join the proletariat in the defence of liberty and the Republic against criminal Fascist subversion."

Rebel troops are marching to Seville after disembarking at Cadiz. An Englishwoman; Mrs. Bower, returning to Gibraltar from Algeciras, was wounded in one shoulder when rioters shot at and wrecked her car.

A large car conveying Spanish fugitives was challenged by Spanish guards and the occupants fired, with the result that the guard closed the frontier gates. All cars leaving Spain are now being challenged by rifle fire.

FOREIGN LEGION WORKERS' HATRED AROUSED OFFICER DESERTS TO REBELS Times Cable LONDON, July 19 The Casablanca (Morocco) correspondent of the Times estimates the number of mutineers at 18,500, tinder General Franco. The movement is openly monarchist.

The prominent part taken by the Foreign Legion, which suppressed the Asturias revolt of 1934 has aroused hatred amoog workers. The Legion was embittered by the recent purge carried out by the Moroccan Commander-in-Chief, General Gomez Morato, under instructions from the Government, which removed many political suspects. The Government ordered General Franco to fly from the Canary Islands to direct operations against the rebels in Morocco, but on reaching Laraiche (El Arish) he assumed their command.

General Franco's buglers simultaneously sounded tho fall in at 2 a.m. on Saturday. Troops in many garrisons stood to arms and were despatched to occupy strategic points and arrest leading civilians. General Franco declared Partial law. and seized the telephone a nd telegraph services after a determined fight.

The General then organised resistance w 'th anti-aircraft tire against Government bombing aeroplanes despatched from Madrid. A loyal pilot, Gregorio Garcy, refused to obey and escaped in a n aeroplane to Port Lyautcy, French Morocco.

The, crews of three warships sent to overawe the rebels joined their forces. The crew of another is parleying with the Laraiche mutineers, the issue being •till uncertain.