MORE RAIDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23059, 9 June 1938, Page 13

MORE RAIDS

CITY OF BARCELONA HEAVY CASUALTIES SERIOUS ALLEGATION PRACTICE BY GERMANS FRANCO'S OPPOSITION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 8, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, JUDO S Nationalist aeroplanes raided Barcelona twice to-day. Bombs fell in the workers' district and casualties are believed to have been heavy, says a message from the Republican Government headquarters. It is learned from a most reliable source that recent air raids in Spain were carried out as bombing practice by German airmen, says the Gibraltar correspondent of the British United Press. ' General Franco was opposed to the raids, adds the writer, as he fears repercussions, and also considers that enough damage has been done in Spain. However, the Germans wore anxious to test out their bombers and pilots and threatened to withhold war material unless they were allowed to carry out the bombings. Madrid and Valencia were twice raided yesterday. Fifty-four Italian airmen, 46 German and 44 Spanish are reported to have been captured since the outbreak of the civil war, says a message from Barcelona.

WHIRLWIND DRIVE

/ " ADVANCE TO COAST

REBELS CLAIM GAINS DENIAL OF DISAFFECTION (Received June 8, 11.5 p.m.) hj, SARAGOSSA, June 8 After a whirlwind drive along a 25mile -front, the insurgents are scarcely 15 miles from Castellon on the Mediterranean coast. They advanced •over five miles in 24 hours. A large contingent of Republican troops is reported to be trapped with their backs to sea.

General Franco's headquarters vigorously deny the rumours of unrest emanating from Gibraltar, and attribute them to Red propaganda. It is also denied that General Dellano, who was said to be leading the disaffected officer*, has been disgraced.

BRITISH SHIPPING REPEATED ATTACKS - PUBLIC OPINION STIRRED HI 5 • LONDON, June 7 • The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, stated a few days ago that he hoped to have the opportunity to make an offer for mediation in Spain, says the Australian Associated Press. However, General Franco's ceaseless attacks on British shipping are rapidly altering the situation.

The immediate issue now is to devise measures to cope with that. The latest attacks are regarded as particularly defiant and public opinion is becoming ao stirred that drastic action is likely.

While the Government is anxious to adhere to all the phases of nonintervention, it feels that the attacks cannot be allowed to continue. The Earl of Perth, British Ambassador io Italy, conferred with Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, in Rome at the week-end. It is gathered that the Italians disclaim any association with the bombings. , '■% Three bombs struck the steamer English Tanker at Alicante, and the vessel is furiously ablaze. The Maryad is still burning, and the Thorpe Haven and St. Winifred, all British ships, are so damaged that they are unseaworthy. GRANOLLERS ATTACK NO MILITARY OBJECTIVES British Wireless RUGBY. June 7 The British Minister at Barcelona, Mr. I. H. Leche, reporting on the bombing by rebels of Granollers, states that there were no military objectives in the centre of the town, where most of the bombs fell, although the term might be stretched to include a few factories on the outskirts and an aerodrome in the vicinity. Many of the casualties were among women and children.