LEAVING SPAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23165, 11 October 1938, Page 11

LEAVING SPAIN

ITALIAN TROOPS DUCE'S DECISION MAXIMUM CONCESSION AIRMEN TO REMAIN NECESSARY TO FRANCO By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 10, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 10 Italian legionaries whom General Franco is sending home from Spain have assembled at Rioja, whence they will proceed to Naples in a few days, says the Milan correspondent of the Times. The newspaper Corriere Delia Sera says they took part in most of the important battles and, in 21 months, lost 4000 men killed and 9000 wounded. A semi-official communique issued in Rome since midnight makes it clear that Signor Mussolini regards the withdrawal of 10,000 men from Spain as Italy's maximum concession in order to procure the ratification of the AngloItalian agreement. The communique adds that this withdrawal is not connected with the decisions of the Non-intervention Committee, nor with the international and Mediterranean political situations, but was decided upon long before the Munich conference. The communique also reports that discussion of a Mediterranean pact is misleading and premature.

Heater's Rome correspondent says it is noted that only infantrymen are being withdrawn. General Franco is reported to have declared he still requires the. Italian airmen, who are playing a most important part in the Kbro River offensive. Italians are anxiously waiting to hear whether the withdrawal of the infantrymen will satisfy Britain. The secretary of the Non-interven-tion Board, Mr. F. Hemming, has left London for Burgos to explain the details of the plan for the withdrawal of volunteers to General Franco's Administration. BARCELONA RAIDED

BOMBERS AT MIDNIGHT BRITISH SHIPS STRUCK ONE VESSEL SET BLAZING (Recelvsd October 10. 7.30 p.m.) BARCELONA, Oct. 0 Two squadrons of aeroplanes at midnight dropped scores of heavy bombs on Barcelona, 10 people being killed and four wounded. Much damage was done. The Government claims that five of the bombers were brought down. An aeroplane to-day bombed and set on fire the British steamer Bramhill, and again struck the steamer Gothic, with successive bombs.

ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS GRAND COUNCIL'S PRAISE RETURNING LEGIONARIES ROME, October 9 The Fascist Grand Council issued a communique greeting legionaries "who are returning from Spain after 18 months' campaigning, during which they set the example of Italian valour, and sacrifices of blood reaffirmed the determination to defend the cause of Fascism everywhere with arms," The Council affirmed its full agreement with the Fascist foreign policy based on the Rome-Berlin axis.