REBEL SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 11

REBEL SUCCESS

SANTANDER FALLS EXODUS OF POPULACE CROWDS FLEE TO FRANCE BASQUE CITY'S PLIGHT By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August 28, 7.25 p.m.) LONDON. A/Jgust 20 A radio message from Salamanca announces that insurgent sympathisers seized the city of Santander, on the north coast of Spain, west of Bilbao, wheh is now under the control of the Nationalists. The attacking troops entered Santander in the evening after the '/Fifth Column" (General Franco's elaborate espionage system) had risen against the loyalist authorities and seized control, following fierce street fighting. Hundreds of refugees fled to France in all conceivable types of craft. From the Valladolid (rebel) radio station it is announced that two rebel battalions entered Santander, and that the main body Avill move in to-morrow. The insurgents claim to> have captured several Government leaders while tliey were trying to escape in motorcars, and to have taken 150,000 prisoners and equipment. Boats Filled With Refugees

Sardine boats, filled -with militiamen and their wives and families, are arriving at Bavonne and Arachon from Santander, which they say was rendered untenable by the dropping of tons of bombs from insurgent aeroplanes. Italian and Navarran brigades are continuing their lightning advance. British refugees who have arrived at St. Jean de Luz on the British destroyer Keith, stated that Santander was without water for several days and had no light and no civil organisation. Looting, pillaging and indiscriminate shooting had become a horror of sheer anarchy. Hundreds of fishing boats and trawlers sailed with men, women and children fighting for places on board. Twelve trawlers from the Santander fishing fleet took refuge at La Rochelle to avoid capture. Struggling Masses Fired Upon Members of the "Fifth Column" opened fire on the struggling masses. Four Britons stole a rudderless boat and pushed off under fire. They paddled in the darkness for three hours before being rescued by the crew of the Keith. Shells are dropping every few minutes in Madrid, where the rebels are keeping up an intense bombardment which is causing heavy damage and casualties. An official report announces that the Catalonian army, in a new offensive, cut the communications between Saragossa and Huesca and bro.ke through at other places. They surrounded the enemy in the Quinto sector and aerially bombarded insurgent railways, aerodromes and troop concentrations. Capture Due to Revolt in City A revolt of the Ciyil Guards, police, Carabiniers and part of the civilian population hastened the fall of Santander, according to the Morning Post's correspondent. He says they took charge of the public buildings, and imprisoned the remainder of the Government forces, those who resisted being shot out of hand.. A body of civilians then marched out carrying a white flag and invited General Davila, commanding the insurgents' Northern Army, to enter. Many political leaders, militia officers and others were caught trying to escape to Asturia. Insurgent naval units are closely guarding the entrance to Santander harbour to prevent further escapes by way of the sea. ITALIAN TRIUMPH ROME PRESS ELATED TROOPS' LEADING ROLE (Received August 26, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON'. August 26 The Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail says the fall of Santander is hailed throughout Italy as an Italian triumph. The newspapers are emphasising that Italian Legionaries played the leading role. BASQUES' REVOLT

10,000 MILITIAMEN

WAR AGAINST BOTH SIDES (Received August 2(5, 9.5 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON. August 26 The St. Jean do Luz correspondent of the Times reports that Basque militia numbering about 10,000, have withdrawn from Santander to Santona and intend to hold the territory between Santona and Castro ur Diales against both the Nationalists and tho Valencia Government. These troops are well supplied with arms and food and are determined to fight, to the last unless they can arrange acceptable terms. PROTECTION OF SHIPS NAVY IN MEDITERRANEAN (Received August 20, 6.5 p.m.) British Wiroloss RUGBY. August 25 The British Government proposes to maintain continuously for tho present a naval force of at least one flotilla of destroyers and two heavier ships in tho western basin of the Mediterranean for the protection of British shipping. It is understood the battleship Warspite will sail for the Mediterranean on September 2, subject to satisfactory trials of her new machinery.