AIR CARNAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23048, 27 May 1938, Page 11

AIR CARNAGE

REBEL BOMBERS CITY A JHAMBLES RAID ON ALICANTE 240 CIVILIANS KILLED CONSULAR PROTESTS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 20, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 20 The Spanish insurgents have intensified their bombing of coastal cities. Alicante suffered the worst raid of the war when 240 people were killed and 1000 injured.

The air attack was the most frightful since tho carnage at Barcelona. The centre of the city is a terrible sight and tho recovery of the bodies will take days. The raiders added to the terror by swooping low and machinegunning the crowded streets. Tho raid on Alicante lasted for 20 minutes, during which over 100 bombs were dropped by six aircraft. Fifty buildings were destroyed. Two bombs exploded in the market place, which was crowded with women. The worst damage was done in tho centre of the town. The Consular Corps, representing 18 nations, collectively presented their condolences to the civil Governor, and decided to fly their flags at half mast for three days as a protest against the raid. The Consular Corps has also telegraphed a protest to General Franco against the bombing of non-military objectives, pointing out that only civilians were killed in the raid. The port of Alicanto also was bombed, but none of the five British ships in the harbour was hit. Four hundred bombs were dropped on Sagunta, resulting in numerous casualties. A message from Barcelona says the Republican and insurgent communiques are so conflicting that it is impossible accurately to sum up the trend of operations on the Catalonian front. Each side consistently denies the other's claims, but it is known that heavy fighting continues over a wide area, with substantial losses on both sides.