PORTUGUESE REVOLT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 11

PORTUGUESE REVOLT

rebel forces defeated. A HEAVY BOMBARDMENT. CITIES BADLY SHATTERED. (Pratt Aeoooiation—®r Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 10. The first uncensored message from Lisbon since Monday announces that the rebels there unconditionally surrendered last night. The Government has now the upper hand throughout the country. The rebels surrendered at 10.30 last night, after a field and machine gun bombardment lasting for 44 hours. The Government’s promptness in disarming the cruisers, whose crews it suspected, removed from the city the horrors of a naval bombardment. The insurgents, including naval men, police, and a section of the Republican guard, erected barricades, seized the naval arsenal and the post office, and cut off communication with the outside world. A Government aeroplane dropped three torpedoes upon the arsenal. There was a huge explosion, causing immense damage and killing many persons, including non-combatants. The culminating moments of the siege of the arsenal were reached at 5 p.m., when the Loyalists, supported by two regiments from Oporto nd additional artillery, opened drum fire, over which were constantly heard the bursts of machine guns. Extensive damage was caused in the Prague Derio de Janeiro, the most modern quarter and also in the Praga de The bombardment slackened at nightfall. Firemen worked all night recovering bodies from the wreckage, in which most were buried. . , , To-day Lisbon is a tragic spectacle. Fires are blazing in the city, there are gaping holes in the buildings, bodies are Ottered in the street, and there are piteous cries for help by the wounded, many of whom are civilians and women. ine casualty list will be heavy. . The latest estimate from Oporto is fo billed and 350 wounded, and from Lisbon 193 killed and 1000 wounded. One shell wiped out a rebel machine gun company of 10 men. It was a fight to the death in certain quarters of the city. It will be weeks before Portugal resumes normal life, as the revolt coincided with a strike of ail the civil servants and btato employees, particularly the railwayman, who were replaced by sapers. Even now it is feared that the general body of workers may throw in their lot with the rebels, causing a general stnke throughout the country and making the movement of troops and 'provisions most difficult. The revolutionary leaders are feeling that time is their ally, and are endeavouring to keep the Government troops distributed. The difficulties of General Carmona have been increased by the fear that the apparentlv loyal regiments might desert, especially if the rebels gamed a local advantage. , , , • There is an acute shortage of food in Lisbon. The Government is making an effort to restore the public services, which were dislocated by sabotage. It has closed the offices of the General Federation of Labour, and imprisoned the staff of the newspaper Batalha, which was implicated in the rising.—A. and N-Z. Cable. SHELLING OF OPORTO. PITILESS AND SUSTAINED ATTACK. PARIS, (February 10. Communication between Oporto and Lisbon is only possible by aeroplane, with a Government permit. Several trains, loaded with troops, are arriving at Lisbon, whither more loyalists are marching from details of the rebels’ surrender at Oporto are given by an eye-witness, who savs that the Government opened the final attack on Tuesday morning by shelling Oporto with 20 guns. Many terrified citizens fled, using every means of transport, including sailing and rowing About 100 persons were killed and MJJ wounded. , , After 16 hourls’ bombardment several of the finest buildings in the city were obliterated. Tire rebel leader General Souza, finally surrendered, explaining that he wished to save Oporto from complete destruction. Accordingly, the Minister of War made a triumphant entry into the shattered town on horse-back. He was coldly received bv the inhabitants, who considered him responsible for the havoc wrought by the besiegers’ guns. Ihe situation is normal* this S ti trains are running.—A. and N.Z. Gable. THE DAMAGE IN LISBON. TERRORS OF BOMBARDMENT. LONDON, February 11. (Received Feb. 11, at 11.30 p.m.) Messages direct from Lisbon confirm generally the news cabled during the few days from the frontier, but nothing of p political nature is yet allowed to be transmitted. . , , , Crowds viewed the damage in the streets of Lisbon yesterday. A large portion oi the naval arsenal has been destroyed Palmella Palace and many of the foremost buildings have been damaged. Many of the inhabitants spent three days in ceWs while shells were hurtling overhead, hood has become very scarce. The rebels installed machine guns in the British Club at Oporto, which was damaged by the fire of the Government troops.—A. and N.Z. Cable.