GRIM BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 9

GRIM BATTLE

| NORTHERN SPAIN

SAN SEBASTIAN'S FATE [REBELS BEGIN ATTACK bridgehead captubed IJtliN MID IN BUINS

- ' By Telegraph—rress Association—Copyright (Received September G, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 5 Despatches' from Hendayc, on / . the Franco-Spanish frontier, state that the rebels captured the bridgehead between Irun and San Sebastian and began to bombard Fort Guadaloupe. L Reinforcements for the rebels, consisting of members of the Foreign Legion, have arrived from Pamplona. A special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Hendave states that Irun, which 24 hours ago was a town with 12.000 inhabitants, now is a heap of blazing luins. Not one house remains Anarchists are still holding out amid the flames. " San Sebastian is the rebels' next objective. Artillery was brought'up yes- ! terday and the Government lines are tinder fire. A stream of refugees is leaving for the coast. The only official reference to the Irun front by the Madrid Government is that fighting continues at San Sebastian. It asserts that the fall of Irun was not decisive but only an incident in the struggle. Scattered groups of loyalists on the • sides of hills still snipe the roads leading to Irun, in which few defenders remain. Two hundred loyalists, reinforced by 300 from San Sebastian, made a last stand in the highway until they were mown down by machine-guns. Prisoners in Fort Guadaloupe escaped in fours and fives after their liberation by the Basque guard.

HOPELESS DEFENCE LOYALISTS' BRAVE STAND IRUN BURNS AT NIGHT HENDAYE, Sept. 4 The resistance of the loyalists at Irun was as heroic as it was 'hopeless. Very fierce house-to-house fighting continued all this morning, militiamen remaining in houses until they were bombed out. As-the survivors retired they lighted fuses which exploded dynamite. The civil population fled, fearing a massacre. Over streets littered with dead toniglit hangs the pall of smoke—evidence of the burning of more than half the town. it is estimated that 2000 people were killed in the savage four hours' fighting which preceded the rebels' victory. Half-naked Moors roamed the Jtr&ts, slashing and shooting, and not /eaving a living being as they advanced behind a barrage of hand-grenades. The - ' wounded were ruthlessly knifed or shot. §®P.. Retreat Averts Worse Slaughter Undoubtedly the wild retreat- to French territory averted much more merciless killing in Irun. The main gateway from France to Spain is now in rebel hands, but the prize has turned to ashes, the town being a mass of burning or smoking ruins. The resistance of the Government forces died slowly, flickering out only to burst out again elsewhere with the energy of despair. One of the most desperate acts of resistance was maintained by 10 French, one German and one Belgian machine-gunners, who fought to the end. At least 20 Frenchmen fighting against the rebels were killed. A steady drizzle is falling to-night but it is not sufficient to quell the flames. Buildings Destroyed with Dynamite - An unconfirmed report states that ""all hostages were executed in' Fort Guadaloupe, held by loyalists, where the Archbishop of Valladolid was detained.

Eve-witnesses on the French frontier »■ report. that there were explosions all the afternoon followed by fierce fires, g as the loyalists carried out their threat to dynamite the town. It seems impossible that a s'ngle soul can come out alive from this hell. Xo prisoners were taken. The rebels killed everyone found bearing arms. The French rushed up 150 soldiers to prevent the rebels pursuing the loyalists across the frontier.. From Fort Guadaloupe the loyalists shelled the rebel lines continuously. The British destroyer Comet is standing by at San Sebastian. There are'now 6000 refugees at Hendaye alone. — REFUGEES IN FRANCE AIMLESS WANDERING Fighters retreat to fort HENDAYE, Sept. 4 As the rebels swept into Irun there ttas a ; frantic rush of refugees across the bridge to France. Women carrying babies, weeping children and haggard men, many in night attire, are now ' Pandering aimlessly in Hendaye, though some are being accommodated in camps outside the town, and hundreds are being distributed among residents in surrounding towns. The refugees were compelled to surrender their weapons in Hendaye. A hospital has been established in the town square to care for the wounded., Many fugitives left for Barcelona by special train and soon will be lighting again on other fronts. , The Government forces late to-night abandoned tho defence of the international bridgehead and retreated to pjCV Fort Guadaloupe. NAVAL ENCOUNTER k ~ GOVERNMENT SHIP SUNK ■' C- (Received September 6, 5.5 p.m.) '■%[ SEVILLE, Sept. 5 In a wireless broadcast from Seville the rebels state that the battleship I'kpana sank a Government torpedoj to.it at Bilbao. If' Jt is announced that the insurgents ordered the crucifix to replace the resident's portrait in all public buildl,lKs and schools.