MADRID'S PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22545, 9 October 1936, Page 11

MADRID'S PLIGHT

REBEL ULTIMATUM THREAT TO DESTROY SIX ARMIES CONVERGE LONG STRUGGLE LIKELY By Telegraph—rress Association—Copyright (Received October 8, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7 Messages from Spain state that rebel airmen to-day dropped thousands of leaflets on Madrid containing an ultimatum threatening that a terrific air attack would be made if the defenders of the capital did not surrender.

A few hours after the warning leaflets had been dropped the capital was heavily bombed from insurgent aeroplanes. In a despatch from Talavera, tho correspondent of the Daily Telegraph with the rebel troops, says that General Franco haso <six armies diverging on Madrid. The leader of tho insurgents intends to leave open one way of escape fro mthe capital to Valencia. Most of tho insurgent officers have families in Madrid, therefore, wish to spare it as far as possible. General Franco's forces now total 150,000, as compared with the Government's 80,000 men, but thp latter occupy a strong defensive position. As the ( Government is well supplied with artillery and munitions, the battle for the capital may last a month. A message from Burgos states that .'!0 machines were employed against the railway lines, aerodrome and barracks. Pilots saw signs of panic and declare that the evacuation of the city has begun. Tho thrust toward Madrid has been facilitated by tho capture of Fuenas j Lida, Portillo and Santa Cruz del Ratemar. The struggle for the lastnamed was very fierce and was proceded by an intensive aerial action. Three hundred loyalists wore killed in the fighting at Santa Cruz del Ratemar. Navalcarnero i« now the last strong point between the rebel forces and Madrid.