WAR IN SPAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22497, 14 August 1936, Page 11

WAR IN SPAIN

REBEL OFFENSIVE key towns captured /SANGUINARY BATTLES LOYALISTS' REVERSES HEAVY LOSS OE LIFE By Telepraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 13, 7.25 p.m.) " Time? Cable LONDON, August 12 The commencement of the long awaited offensive of the leader of the rebels, General Franco, from the south is announced by a correspondent of the Times in a despatch from the Franfco-Spanish frontier. jj e says it was accompanied by the capture of Badajoz, on the Toi;tug"e sp frontier, and the establishment of contact with the southernmost portion of General Jlola's forces from the north. The capture of Badajoz was preceded by the most sanguinary engagement of the campaign'and was attended by the defeat of a Government column from Madrid flt Mcrida with the loss of 1000 dead. much booty and a few prisoners.. J The rebels also claim the capture of j Snstago on the Biver Ebro, 40 milos j south-east of Saragossa. The Daily Mail's Tolosa corres- \ pendent says the insurgent forces have j almost completely _enclosed a strip on j the north coast of Spain comprising San i Sebastian and Irun. Twelve thousand troops, supported by armoured ears and artillery, are operating against San Sebastian, the defences of which are crumbling. The insurgents have captured the key town of Tolosa, south-west of San , Sebastian and now are pushing on toward Vilabonia.

NEUTRALITY PROPOSAL • OPTIMISM IN PARIS PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS PARIS, August 12 Optimism in connection with tho progress of the neutrality negotiations is displayed in the French press. Le Journal says it considers that tho whole world is so aware of the risks which would attend intervention that no nation is inclined to defy them. Diplomatic circles in Paris hope that an agreement will be reached at the end of the week. Even Rome is more favourable toward the proposal. PORTUGAL'S DILEMMA PROXIMITY TO WAR ZONE , SYMPATHY OF BRITAIN British Wireless RUGBY, August 12 Owing to the proximity of Portugal to the areas of disturbance in Spain she takes an important place among the Powers involved in negotiation on the French initiative of an understanding regarding non-intervention in the Spanish conflict. The Portuguese Government already has given ite adherence in principle to these proposals, but in doing so raised one or two points upon whidh replies have been sent to Lisbon.

,In England there is sympathetic comprehension of the anxietie? of the Portuguese Government in the face of what remains an unpredictable development of the present troubles. Comment on these aspects of her position recognises Portugal's strong interest in the early and successful outcome of the French efforts, in support of which the British Government has been active for a general agreement against '.ntarven- | tion. I .It is also recalled that eventualities involving danger to Portuguese security are provided for in the Covenant of the League of Nations. The British at;it'u!e in such circumstances is defined as we'l by the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty. ITALIAN AIRMEN WARPLANES IN MOROCCO MILLIONAIRE'S EVIDENCE ALGIERS, Anfrnst 12 Evidence was given at the inquiry into tho crash of Italian pilots in Morocco by a Spanish millionaire, Senor Juan March, who fled to France but was expelled. He said he had ordered five warplanes for Spanish Morocco from the Savoia Company of Italy. The pilots informed the Court that they would return home. They thanked the French authorities for their consideration. , BRITISH DIPLOMATS RETURN TO THEIR POSTS Wireless RUGBY, August 12 It is announced that Mr. Ogilvie Forbes, Counsellor at the British Embassy in. Madrid, who is on leave in England, is going back to Madrid to take charge of the Embassy in the shsence of the Ambassador, Sir Henry Chilton. Sir Henry moved to his summer quarters before tho outbreak of the civil .*ar and is now near St. Jean de Luz. Arrangements have been made for a destroyer to convey Mr. Forbes from Marseilles to Valencia. Probably ho will rea °h Madrid early next week. Sir Charles Wingfield, British Ambas|®dor to Portugal, is interrupting his *® ava to return to that country- It is hkely that ho will sail from England the end of the week.

appeal to navy foreigners in granada Br ''i*h Wireless - RUGBY, August 12 In consequence of a report that 200 ore igners, including many Britons, are Marooned in the insurgent stronghold Granada and have appealed for help the British Navy, arrangements for to evacuate them are being ftade.