BADAJOZ IN RUINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 9

BADAJOZ IN RUINS

THOUSANDS EXECUTED STREETS FULL OF BODIES MADRID FEELING THE PINCH (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LISBON, August 17. Journalists who visited the ruined city of Badajdz report that the Moorish troops are continuing the massacre of Government supporters. An officer, Colonel Yagues, of the staff, confirmed that 2000 had already been executed. The corpses were burned in huge fires to avoid waste of time. Hundreds are still being brought before the military tribunals. If the right shoulder shows a bruise, apparently caused by firing a rifle, they are ordered to be shot out of hand. The special correspondent of The Times states that in the older parts of the town prisoners were placed against the wall and shot in batches. The pavement near the rebel headquarters ran with blood and there were ghastly pools in which lay caps, tom papers, and small belongings of the massacred. Hundreds of terrified people took refuge in the cathedral. Two militiamen found there were shot dead on the steps of the altar. Houses were allowed to burn unheeded, and the streets are full of dead bodies.

“It is a splendid victory,” said Colonel Yagues. Burgos insurgents are speeding up the transport of Moorish troops. It is estimated that they are flying between 500 and 600 fairly new Italo-German machines. The military junta at Burgos, over which General Cabanellas presides is attempting to carry out all administrative functions of a Government, and has created committees to control banking, commercial, and industrial companies. The rebel battleship Espana and the cruiser Velasco are shelling the forts within a mile of Hendaye, in which thousands of pounds of dynamite are stored. Meanwhile troops are closing in on San Sebastian and Irun. At Madrid the Government considers that its own successes outweigh those of the rebels. It landed three columns at Majorca, taking the insurgents by surprise. Palma is expected to fall at any moment. The Government also claims that it is consolidating control on the northern coast along the Bay of Biscay, and is continuing the advance in the Granada and Cordoba sectors. The rebel position at Segovia is reported to be desperate. The Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence on the rebel leaders, General Banjul and Colonel Quintana. Madrid is feeling the pinch of war, though life is normal. Food is scarce and prices are rising. It is almost impossible to buy vegetables or fresh fruit. Cigarettes are also unobtainable, as the chief factories at Seville are in rebel hands. "HYSTERICAL REPORTS” . MADRID, August 17. The British colony in Madrid, after discussing the reports of the alleged Government atrocities, telegraphed Mr Eden an “ indignant protest against hysterical reports.” BRITISH SUBJECTS IN MADRID (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, August 17. According to a message from Mr Ogilvie-Forbes, Counsellor to the British Embassy at Madrid, who arrived to take charge there on Sunday, there are now about 200 British subjects left in the capital, 41 of whom are being housed in the Embassy grounds. All is quiet in Madrid at the moment, but as a precautionary measure the Embassy has taken over the accommodation in' case of need, and as a further precautionary step a Union Jack is being painted on the roof of the Embassy and the commercial secretariat in order to minimise the danger of possible bombing by aircraft. THE ATTACK ON MAJORCA LONDON, August 17. Reports received in London suggest that the attack on Majorca was not the success the Government claims. Five hundred Government troops are reported to have been killed and 250 captured. REBEL LEADERS EXECUTED MADRID, August 17. General Fanjul and Colonel Quintana were executed. The Government forces are reported to be advancing everywhere on the Saragossa front. NON-INTERVENTION POLICY LONDON, August 18. The Berlin correspondent of The Times says Baron von Neurath handed to M. Poncet Germany’s reply agreeing to the Franco-British proposals for non-intervention, subject to reservations, presumably including the stoppage of concerted recruiting for either side and the despatch of armaments and aircraft The Rome correspondent of The Times says Count Ciano received the English and French representa fives and authorised the statement that the Franco-Italian conversations have not yet concluded, but that Italy sincerely desires to collaborate. It is believed that a satisfactory formula can be reached. THE BATTLE FOR MAJORCA BOTH SIDES CLAIM SUCCESS LONDON, \ugust 18. (Received August 18, at 5.5 p.m.) After months of conflict the rebels hold portion of the Basque provinces Old Castile and Estremadura. and portion of Andalusia, besides the entire western section of Spain running parallel to the Portuguese border, the Balearics, exceot Iviza and Formentera, and all Snanish Morocco, with which the small West Africa settlement of Ifni has now thrown in its lot. The Government controls Madrid, the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees to Madaga, and all the main Atlantic ports on the northern coast. No further strategic or tactical successes have been reported by either side. Both loyalists and rebels are manoeuvring for position following the fall of Badajoz and diversion of attention to San Sebastian and the Balearic Islands areas.

The result of the Government invasion of Majorca under Captain Bayo, the victor at Iviza, is still uncertain, despite its effective beginning. Both sides claim success. The Government troops, who hold their ground, are believed to be resuming the attack after a temporary check. The reported capture of the Government naval base at Cartagena by rebels remains unconfirmed. A loyalist “ iron column,” marching north-west from Valencia, announces minor successes around Teruel. Activities have been resumed in the Guadarrama section, where loyalists fell into an ambush at Atienza and retired to Gsadalajara. Before his execution with General Quintana at a model prison at dawn, General Banjul was married to an unknown lady by a priest, who administered communion. LABOUR LEADER’S SUGGESTION LONDON, August 18. (Received August 18, at 7 p.m.) Mr George Lansbury. in a letter to The Times, urges that Parliament should meet to protest in the name of the whole British people against the invasion of a friendly nation by armies of aliens paid and equipped from outside. He adds; “ The silence of the Government’s national leaders on the subject is appalling.” He appeals to The Times to join in leading a great campaign to evoke a declaration that Britons are prepared to launch a movement demanding a truce in Spain in order to make the people’s wishes known. NO AIRCRAFT FOR REBELS LONDON, August 17. The Aircraft Shop Stewards’ National Council has requested the Secretary of State for Air (Viscount Swinton) to take immediate_ steps to prevent the sale of British aircraft to the rebels, while giving the Government every facility to acquire planes of all types. The council adds: “If further aircraft are sent to the rebels, the council will decide what steps to take to prevent a recurrence.” The council also demands reassembly of Parliament to discuss the Spanish situation. GERMANY’S DECISION LONDON, August 18. (Received August 18, at 10.30 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent says: “ The German Government’s decision to accept with reservations the French nonintervention proposals followed the Madrid Government’s decision to appoint a special tribunal to investigate the shooting of four German nationals in Catalonia, against which Germany protested, counled with an indemnity demand. It is also officially announced that the crew of the Lufthansa aeroplane, which was seized, against which Berlin also protested, has been released, but the machine is still being held.”