BOMBING AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23082, 6 July 1938, Page 13

BOMBING AIRCRAFT

USE BY THE REBELS SPANISH TOWNS RAIDED FIGHT FOR VALENCIA LOYALISTS' REVERSE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (licceived July 5, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 5 Five Junkers aeroplanes raided the village of Cava, killing 12 people and injuring 33 others, says a message from Madrid. Airmen in nine Savoia machines dropped 24 bombs in the working-class suburb of Alicante, and there were inany casualties. Ten persons 'were killed and 50 wounded, and 20 houses were destroyed, in three air raids upon Barcelona carried out by the Nationalists at midnight. The Nationalists announce the capture of the whole "iron ring" defensive system to the right of Sagunto, near Valencia. They say they found it contained fivo parallel lines of trenches elaborately fortified. After long abstention, rebel guns dropped 50 shells into Madrid. The rebels are continuing their dog-gedly-opposed advance on the Castellon front, and have captured Artana and Beuitandera.

BRITISH SHIPPING ATTACKS FROM THE AIR GENERAL FRANCO'S REPLY SANCTUARY PORT SCHEME Britisli Wireless RUGBY, July 4 In tlio absence of the Prime Minister, Mr. Cliamberlain, who was at Leeds to receive an honorary degree, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, in the House of Commons today, announced that the British representative in rebel Spain, Sir Robert Hodgson, had brought General Franco's reply with reference to the bombing of British ships. "Sir Robert arrived in London on Thursday and since then has been engaged in consultation with the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, and his advisers," said Sir John. "The House will not expect me to do more at the moment than give a summary of the reply from General Franco. "The reply maintains that ports are legitimate military objectives, but strongly disclaims any intention to single out British ships as objectives for attack. "The reply goes on to make certain proposals for according immunity from attack to a port to be agreed upon, and the suggestion is made that this port might be Almeria. "The Burgos authorities ask for suitable guarantees concerning the nature of merchandise to be admitted through that port, and conclude by emphasising their readiness to put forward proposals which may be helpful in establishing new laws of war for the future. "I would only add that the shipping interests concerned have been informed of the proposals in this Note," said Sir John, "and Britain naturally will tako the views expressed into account." Lord Halifax will preside at a full meeting of the Non-intervention Committee to-morrow, at which the British plan for restoring land and sea control of the Spanish frontiers and the withdrawal of non-Spanish combatants will come up for final approval.