DRIVE ON MALAGA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 13

DRIVE ON MALAGA

SPANISH INSURGENTS BOMBARDMENT BY FLEET (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MADRID, Feb. 4. A big insurgent advance against Malaga opened this morning. The insurgent fleet bombarded Government positions. It is believed that General Dellano is directing operations from a warship. A Government communique states that the militia is resisting bravely, and that aeroplanes are bombing the rebels. REBEL FLEET DRIVEN OFF LONDON, Feb. 4. (Received Feb. 5, at 5.5 p.m.) Heralded by the evening papers as a great Mediterranean naval engagement, the latest rebel demonstration resolves itself into an illorganised attack on Malaga by such air, land, and sea forces as the insurgents can command. The first reaction to it was successful retaliation by loyalist aircraft, which brought down three rebel bombing planes, while an insurgent plane by mistake machine-gunned a large party of advancing insurgents simultaneously with a Government aeroplane demolishing a lorry full of rebels. This was followed by loyalist planes swooping down on the rebel fleet, driving it to secOther news from the front is scarce, but the position can be gauged from the fact that lorries laden with wounded rebels continue to arrive at Lalinea from the front. ADMIRAL'S VISIT TO VALENCIA (British Official Wtrelessi RUGBY, Feb. 4. A question was asked in the House of Commons regarding the recent visit. of Admiral Sir Roger Backhouse to Valencia. Replying for the Admiralty, Lord Stanley said the visit was made on the occasion of the Home fleet taking over the duties off the coast of Spain previously undertaken by the Mediterranean fleet. During the visit, at the suggestion of his Majesty's Charge d'Affaires, the commander-in-chief paid unofficial calls on the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Marine, and these calls were returned informally. No political significance attached to the visit, which the commander-in-chief would naturally made in order to acquaint himself with the position at first hand and discuss matters personally with Mr Ogilvie L Forbes. Similar visits had since been paid to Barcelona and Parma. PROFESSOR EINSTEIN'S VIEWS WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. (Received Feb. 5, at 9 p.m.) The Spanish Embassy has published the following message from Professor Einstein: "At this moment I can do nothing less than assure you how intimately united I feel , with the loyal forces and their heroic struggle in this great crisis in your country, but at the same time I feel ashamed of the fact that democratic countries have not found in this situation the necessary energy to comply with their fraternal duties. How much more proud Spain may come to feel if, notwithstanding this abstension and despite the intervention of reactionary powers, she is able victoriously to maintain her freedom." AMERICA'S NEUTRALITY WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. (Received Feb. 5, at 9 p.m.) Mr Baruch, appearing before the House Military Affairs Committee at the neutrality hearings, said the United States was trying to travel in opposite directions at the same time by endeavouring to build up foreign trade through reciprocal agreements and simultaneously voting for strict neutrality. He pointed out that this conflict of ideas must make certain countries hesitate to establish economic relations with the United States when they might be deprived of vital supplies in time of war. He advocated strong armed neutrality, and he asked: "Who can believe that had we been ready to fight in 1917 we should have been subjected to the English interference and German insolence that finally made us fight? " He issued a warning that the cutting off of supplies of raw materials from belligerents would result in retaliation, depriving the United States of such essential products as tin. nickel and rubber. Senator Pittman, in a statement, said: "Reports that Mr Runciman, w.hen at Washington, received assurances that there would be no interference with shipments to Britain in the event of the latter being involved in war. are, in my opinion, entirelv without foundation. Such an attitude would be inconsistent with the Administration's policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations."