TERUEL ABLAZE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 13

TERUEL ABLAZE

SPANISH CONFLICT LOYALISTS' RETREAT HEAViY LOSSES SUFFERED DESOLATION IN THE CITY, By Telegrach—Press Association —-Copyright (Received February 24, 12.30 a.m.) BARCELONA. Feb. 23 An official statement says the loyalist garrison has evacuated Teruel, breaking the rebel ring and joining the main forces outside the city. Before leaving Teruel the loyalists set fire to the town, which is now in flames. In their retreat the loyalists fought every inch of the way. The rebels employed cavalry. The Barcelona Government is not greatly perturbed over the loss of Teruel, which is not regarded as being strategically important. A message from the rebels at Saragossa says it is estimated that there have been 60,000 loyalist casualties in the Lower Aragon and Teruel sectors in the past two months. T&ore than 3500 were killed in the final assault on Teruel. In the retreat of the loyalists from that town the rebels captured 1500 prisoners and large quantities of materials. The insurgents have pushed on three miles south of Teruel and are threatening the main Valencia road. The Government admits the loss of the village, of Castralbo on the Valencia road and continues to cover up the magnitude of the retreat by asserting that it was orderly. Teruel presents a scene of fantastic desolation. It is completely uninhabitable. Hundreds of houses have collapsed and are blocking the streets. The famous seminary is a chaotic pile of masonry. BARCELONA RAIDED DEFENDERS GIVE BATTLE BOMBS DO MUCH DAMAGE BARCELONA. Feb. 22 The city of Barcelona was blacked out at 1.40 a.m. to-day owing to the appearance of bombfers from Majorca, Balearic Islands, for the first time since January 31. Aided by searchlights, anti-aircraft batteries engaged the raiders for 45 minutes. No bombs were dropped on the centre of the city, but considerable damage was done elsewhere. FRENCH SHIP ATTACKED DESTROYER TO RESCUE MARSEILLES, Feb. 22 The occupants of an aeroplane machine-gunned the French steamer Prado 15 miles from Valencia, one of the crew being wounded. A destroyer is proceeding at full speed from Toulon. REBEL TERRITORY ANTI-BRITISH FEELING LONDON, Feb. 17 A wave of anti-British feeling is sweeping over the portions of Spain held by the rebels. Badio announcers sarcastically denounce Britain as the "dupe of Moscow." It has been decreed that oranges from rebel Spain must no longer be exported through the port of Gibraltar, although the crop is heavy. This action is interpreted as a, deliberate attempt to annoy the British port authorities. •?