CHARGES DENIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23221, 15 December 1938, Page 15

CHARGES DENIED

BOMBINGS IN SPAIN GENERAL FRANCO'S NOTE MILITARY OBJECTIVES SOME IN OPEN TOWNS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 14, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13 The leader of the Spanish Nationalists, General Franco, has sent a Note to Britain denying the Republicans' allegations of the bombing of civilians, but admitting that military objectives sometimes were located in open towns. The bombings were carried out under the orders of the General Staff, thus disproving the charge that foreign airmen had intervened. General Franco asserted that the Republicans had placed civilians near military objectives in order to use the victims for propaganda purposes. He claimed that the Republicans had carried out 2091 raids on 373 open towns, resulting in 18,985 casualties. "lJring out the bull!" the cry which impatient Spaniards nse when a bull fight starts late, is being shouted by Republicans across no man's land on the Segre River front as they wait for General Franco's delayed offensive, says a message from Barcelona. It is persistently rumoured that the cause of the delay is the desertion of some ol General Franco's officers who were bringing complete plans of campaign for the offensive. From Burgos it is stated that wintry storms are paralysing operations. A Gibraltar message says a Spanish press agency reports that the Italian steamer Firenze landed 300 or 400 Italian infantrymen at Seville. BELGIAN POLICY APPROVAL BY SENATE RELATIONS WITH COMBATANTS (Received December 14, 5.5 p.m.) BRUSSELS, Dec. 13 The Belgian Senate has passed a vote of confidence in the Spanish policy of the Prime Minister, Dr. Spaak, who said he desired to resume normal relations with the Republicans. He added that negotiations with General Franco were proceeding. REBELS' PRISONERS FATE OF THE MAJORITY Independent Cable Service PARIS, Dec. 13 An international committee for the liberation of international volunteers imprisoned in Nationalist Spain has been formed in Paris. It is stated that 3000 or 4000 volunteers have been taken prisoner during the war and only 800 are alive. The remainder have been shot. The rebels shot all their prisoners for the first eight months and only began to spare them after Guadalajara in the hope of exchanging them for Italian prisoners. TANKER FOUNDERS ALL THE CREW SAVED (Received December 14, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Dec. 13 A Spanish Republican tanker foundered in the vicinity of Narbonne. The 38 members of the crew were picked up by tugs.