VALENCIA BOMBED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23204, 31 May 1937, Page 9

VALENCIA BOMBED

SEVEN REBEL MACHINES CITY EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED LARGE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, May 28. A message from Valencia says that a squadron of seven rebel planes, flying in formation, bombed Valencia in bright moonlight, extensively damaging the centre of the city. The casualties are at least 42 dead and 112 injured. Thirty buildings were destroyed, including the Paraguayan Legation. Prompt action by the fire brigades saved a worse disaster from fire. ■ The raid lasted naif an hour. The insurgent planes circled at a great height. The total casualties were 71 killed, of whom 30 were in two houses, and 100 injured. Many buildings were shattered. Planes later extensively bom be J Santa Barbara and Badlona, killing 60 and wounding 50. They later returned to Barcelona and attacked the working class district.

FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS QUESTION OF WITHDRAWAL LONDON, May 28. Mr Anthony Eden, at Geneva, said the replies from the Governments in reference to the withdrawal of volunteers varied in temper, but they by no means precluded .the possibility of agreement. He added that occasionally a tendency had been shown to misunderstand Britain's motives in Spain. No details were available, but at a conservative estimate more than 20,000 refugees had been transported by British ships, and the charges of partiality were unjustified. Senor Delvayo, saying that the Valencia Government accepted the proposals for the withdrawal of volunteers, demanded that the League take a firm stand to save Spain from foreign aggression. He deplored the fact that 78,000 Italians had poured into a sovereign independent country in order to hew their way by fire and sword into the capital. After accusing the Germans of razing Guernica, Senor Delvayo concluded: "The fact that the Italians taken prisoner in the last battle were equipped with gas masks gives reason to fear that gas may be used in an attempt to break into Bilbao." Mr Jordan asked the Council to support the cessation of hostilities. The meeting was adjourned. MANY DIFFICULTIES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 28. In his speech at the League Council meeting at Geneva, Mr Eden said that, despite the many difficulties it had had to face, the Nonintervention Committee had made great progress towards limiting foreign interference in the Spanish conflict.

"While, however, we are entitled to register the measures of success which have been achieved," he said, " the Governments in Europe cannot be satisfied that the objectives of the committee have been realised until the last foreigner has been withdrawn from Spain, and until that unhappy country has jeen allowed to settle her own dest.**y in her own way. The foreigners engaged in hostilities, whether on one side or the other, have no business on Spanish soil. When at length the conflict is over, the Spanish people will not readily forget the large part foreign nations have actively played in the destruction of Spanish life and property. Mr Eden added that the British Government had made inquiries among other Governments to ascertain whether they would join in an approach to both contending parties in Spain asking them to agree to temporary cessation of hostilities on all Spanish fronts for a period sufficient to enable the withdrawal of volunteers to be arranged. A number of replies from the Governments had been received, but he would not attempt to analyse them at present. ITALIAN WARSHIP BOMBED GOVERNMENT PLANES LONDON, May 28.

The Non-intervention Committee's task was further complicated tonight, when Signor Grandi reported that the Italian warship Barletta, acting as a patrol vessel to prevent the importation of war materials to Spain, was bombed by a Government aeroplane in Palma Harbour, resulting in six officers being killed and others, including the captain, wounded.

Signor Grandi added that British warships in the vicinity were able to witness the bombing. The committee originally met to consider methods of humanising the civil war, but the greater part of the four-hour sitting was occupied dealing with the Italian allegations. The committee passed a resolution deploring the loss of Italian life and also the dropping of bombs in proximity to English, German, and other Italian naval vessels, pointing out that the British representatives at Valencia had been assured that the Palma area will be defined as a safety anchorage in which all vessels engaged in naval observation can be accommodated. The committee examined a British suggestion to prevent bombing of open towns and other advocacy of more extensive humanisation. The Russian delegate declared that he was not authorised to make a statement concerning the matters discussed. The committee adjourned. BRITISH VESSEL SUNK SEVEN OF CREW KILLED LONDON, May 28. The British steamer Cadon was hit by a bomb and sank in shallow water Seven of the crew were killed and eight injured. Another bomb hit the British steamer Pinzon The captain said he had an extremely narrow escape GERMAN VESSEL ENDANGERED VALENCIA. May 28 The Government, replving to the German protests that the German desl rover Alba f .ros> vvas endangered irs the air raid on Palma. says that several ships with war material for the insurgents are moored at

Palma and Majorca, which are not within Germany's control area, therefore the Albatross had no right to be there. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS BILBAO, May 28. The Government agreed to exechange Kienzle, Schulzeplanck and Wandel, and two other foreigners, for three Government airmen and a fourth person at present held prisoner by the insurgents. SPANISH NOTE TO LEAGUE IGNORED BY ITALY ROME, May 28. Italy is ignoring the Spanish White Paper. It is stated in official circles that as it is addressed to the League of Nations, which Italy does not recognise, no attempt will be made to deny the White Paper allegations. The Messagero even says that the White Paper reproductions of orders and other military documents prove the excellent organisation of the Italian volunteers LEAGUE RESOLUTION GENEVA, May 29. (Received May 30, at 10 p.m.) The League Council adopted a resolution regretting that certain Sates had not heeded the resolution urging respect for the territorial integrity and independence of Spain, but expressing satisfacton with the progress of non-intervention, and urging withdrawal of non-Spanish combatants and condemning the bombardment of open towns. INCIDENT AT GENEVA MR EDEN AND MR JORDAN GENEVA, May 29. (Received May 30, at 8.30 p.m.) All Geneva is discussing a strange scene involving Mr Anthony Eden and Mr W. J. Jordan, who is reported to have intended to-''invoke Article 10 of the Covenant regarding Spain While Mr Eden's speech was being translated intr French Mr Eden walked to Mr Jordan and began pointing a pencil to certain passages in Mr Jordan's speech. Finally several members of the British delegation surrounded them and Mr Jordan was seen making alterations. Mr Jordan then rose to speak and made an innocuous plea in favour of moves to secure the cessation of hostilities in Spain. Mr Jordan and the other New Zealanders decline to discuss the incident.

THE PROPOSED TRUCE MOSCOW, May 28. The Government agrees to the principle of the British proposal for a truce, but the insurgents must first cease hostilities and withdraw the Moors. RAID ON BARCELONA MADRID, May 30 (Received May 30, at 10 p.m.) Fifty people were killed and 100 injured in an insurgent air raid on Barcelona, in which six planes participated. A WARNING FROM GERMANY BERLIN, May 29. (Received May 30, at 10 p.m.) An official communication warns Government planes not to attack in the vicinity of German ships and adds: "Only the restraint of German commanders will prevent, guns from going off." The Spanish Government retorts that German and Italian warships have no business at Palma. REFUGEE CHILDREN ONE THOUSAND FOR RUSSIA

BILBAO, May 30. (Received May 30, at 11 p.m.) Preparations have been begun to send 1000 children aged five to 12 to Russia, the Soviet paying the cost of the voyage and maintenance. Preference will be given to those whose fathers were killed while fighting for the Government.