WAR HORROR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 13

WAR HORROR

AERIAL TORPEDOES CHURCHES IN FLAMES INCENDIARY BOMBS HOSPITALS BURNING SPANISH REBELS' ACT fly Telegraph—rress Association—Copyright (Received November 17, 5.5 p.m.) MADRID, Nov. 17 Rebel airmen dropped aerial torpedoes and incendiary bombs on several quarters of Madrid last night, killing and injuring a large number of people and setting fire to two hospitals. Two churches, including the Church of the Trinity, where Cervantes, famous author of "Don Quixote," was buried, are also in flames. Several houses have been cut in two. A big timber yard owned by a Belgian company and a building near the French Embassy are blazing fiercely. REBELS CROSS RIVER FIERCE RESISTANCE BATTLE IN THE STREETS LONDON, Nov. 10 General Franco apparently launched a full offensive against Madrid, preceded by the crashing roar of destruction from aeroplanes. Despatches from the Daily Telegraph's correspondent with the rebels disclose that after shattering the defences on the Manzanares River with 15 bombing aeroplanes, protected by 18 scout machines, the insurgents captured and crossed the Segovia, Toledo nud Princesa bridges and began to fight their way through the streets against very fierce resistance. The rebels made only 200 yards headway, however. Loyalists fought from house to house, both sides suffering i terribly.

Colonel Barron attempted an advance along the Calle de Segovia, leading to the Calle Mayor and Puerta del Sol. and Colonel Ascensio tried to force a passage northwards with the same objective along the Calle de Toledo, Colonel Telle supporting their movements. but they were not able to effect a junction.

The loyalists' dead were so thick in the narrow streets that rebel tanks could not penetrate to support the infantry, who eventually were brought to a standstill.

In the meanwhile, Colonels Castejon pncl Bartolomeu, on the north-west, consolidated the occupation of the Moncloa district with small loss. Colonel Delgado holds West Park, overlooking the riverhank and adjoining the National Palace and the Acmudena Cathedral, but the loyalists counterattacked toward Cam pa Mento in his rear in order to cut him off, also exterminating Moorish supports crossing the Casa del Campo and preventing the advance of rebel reinforcements from El Escorial. MILITIA OUTMATCHED MOORS AND LEGIONARIES SAVAGERY OF THE FIGHTING LONDON. Nov. 16 The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail states that Moors and Legionaries outmatched the militia in savage hand-to-hand fighting, compelling the loyalists to fall back on their second lines of defence. General Miaja's directional committee remains in continuous session. The French .Bridge is still the scene of conflict, the Government having massed tanks, armoured cars and antiaircraft guns behind the front and installed searchlights to assist in dealing with night attacks. Moncloa was earlier declared a war area and was evacuated by citizens, so that there are no civilian casualties. The Madrid correspondent of the British United Press states that a Government bombing aeroplane is being used for observing an insurgent force of 200 consolidated in this area. PRISONERS' FATE CONDITIONS IN A GAOL SHOCKING REVELATIONS MARSEILLES. Nov. 10 The shocking condition of hundreds of prisoners in a Madrid gaol is described br a neutral who was released after detention as a suspected spy. "The prisoners, who are mostly merely Buspected of sympathy with the rebels, are so packed," he says, "as to be hardly able to sit. let alone lie down. "The prison is filthy, and the food is repulsive. It is served disgustingly in one dish, from which it is taken in the fingers. There are no beds." DEFENCE PRECAUTIONS PEOPLE OF MADRID ENTIRE STREETS DYNAMITED .MADRID, Nov. 10 The leaders of the militia regiments in Madrid have directed every inhabitant to prepare bottles of petrol, corked with cottonwool, and be ready to ignite and throw these at tanks and armoured cars which might enter the city. The inhabitants arc to organise for fighting at street corners, building barricades, digging trenches and maintaining ah armed sentry service. Citizens nnwt convert their houses into fort rosses. Lntire streets near the Manzanares River have been dynamited to hold up the rebels.^