SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 9

SPANISH CIVIL WAR

THE FOREIGN NATIONALS QUESTION OF WITHDRAWAL SCHEME BEING PREPARED (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric TeleeraDh—Copyright) RUGBY, May 26.

The question of withdrawal of foreign nationals from the Spanish civil war was again before the International Committee in- London, and the preparation of a scheme was carried a stage further by reference of the experts' report to non-inter-vention Governments for their, comments.

The draft appeal to the two parties in Spain regarding the conduct of the present conflict was considered and amended, and will come up again for adoption at a further meeting of the Plenary Committee on Friday. In submitting to the Governments the report of the Technical Advisory Subcommittee containing a plan for withdrawal from Spain of nonSpaftish nationals engaged either directly or indirectly, representatives on the Non-intervention Committee will request them to inform the 'committee as soon as possible whether the plan commends itself to them, and whether they would be prepared to take certain courses of action indicated in the report in the event, first, of general agreement being reached by the International Committee as to the nature of the withdrawal plan; and, secondly,, of acceptance of that plan by the two parties in Spain. Replies by a number of Governments to the committee's questionnaire regarding legal- and other problems raised by acts of interference by the two parties in Spain with the shipping of European countries, have not yet been received. REBELS RELEASE VOLUNTEERS ' . SALAMANCA, May 26. General Franco has liberated all foreign members of the International Brigade imprisoned here. A French prisoner, before his departure for the frontier, testified to his comrades' gratitude for General Franco's observance of the rules regarding the treatment of war prisoners. BASQUE REFUGEES GOOD STANDARD OF HEALTH ■ ißritish Official Wireless) ' /• RUGBY, May 26. In the course of a brief debate in , the House of Lords on the refugee Basque-children, it was stated that the British Government had satisfied itself that the children would be properly looked after. The medical examination upon their arrival had , been specially searching and re- , vealed a surprisingly good standard of health.' . BASQUE PEOPLE'S GRATITUDE BILBAO, May 26. President Aguirre, interviewed, warmly testified to the Basque people's gratitude for the generous reception of refugee children in England. THE CONDEMNED GERMANS EXECUTION POSTPONED BILBAO, May 26. The execution of the condemned Germans has been postponed, no date being fixed. FRENCH PLANE SHOT DOWN ; PILOT'S MASTERLY LANDING LONDON, May 26. A Bilbao mesage states that rebel Heinkel fighters shot down a British- . made Airspeed Envoy plane carrying mails and five passengers, including a woman, all of whom were slightly injured. The pilot, Galli, was sent to hospital. He made a masterly landing, averting complete disaster.

The plane belonged to Air Pyrenees, a French line working the Bayonne-Bilbao air service. It came down at Sopelana, nine miles from Bilbao, and was partly destroyed. Rebel aircraft had previously chased the machine, but it always outdistanced them. Galli said he became aware that he was being followed by insurgent planes, but was not disturbed because the plane was clearly marked "Air Pyrenees," but later he became hemmed in by insurgent machines, which opened heavy machine-gun fire. "My windscreen was cracked, and I suppose the glass injured my head," he said. "The passengers flattened themselves on the floor. The engine failed as I searched for a landing place. I lost consciousness the moment the plane touched ground.". THE BILBAO FRONT ANOTHER REBEL SUCCESS PARIS, May 27. (Received May 28, at 1.15 a.m.) As the result of a renewal of the offensive between Barambio and Orduna. assisted by tanks and aeroplanes, the rebels captured Lemona, seven miles from Bilbao, and dominate Orduna. Their infantry consists of 4000 Italians, 1000 Carlistsand 1000 regulars. They dislodged the Basques at the third attempt, taking 100 prisoners after two repulses. Reinforcements are being poured into the rebel ranks.