SPANISH REBELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23299, 17 September 1937, Page 9

SPANISH REBELS

ATTACK ON ELPARDO SECTOR FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED LOYALIST DEFENCE HOLDS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) MADRID, Sept. 15. A rebel attack on the Elpardo sector caused the fiercest fighting for months on the Madrid front. Crack shock troops of Moors also attacked on the Carabanchel and Jarama fronts, but the onslaughts failed. Two Germans and three Spaniards were among the first arrested in the Republican drive against espionage. They had £4OOO in gold and jewels. GIJON REFUGEES CAPTURED ST. JEAN DE LUZ, Sept. 15. The insurgents claim to have Captured a drifter in which Socialists and Communists were fleeing from the reign of terror established in Gijon by the dictator Ballaminoc Tomas. The captives stated that Asturias had been declared an independent State, and that loyalists and military chiefs had been sentenced to death. Remonstrances sent by radio from Valencia saved the life of the Soviet Consul. REBEL SEAPLANE RAIDER PERPIGNAN, Sept. 15. An insurgent seaplane circled the French steamer Port (Endre after bombing Port Bou and a frontier rail tunnel. Coast batteries fired on the raider, which went out to sea with a • Republican fighter in pursuit. BRITISH VESSEL FIRED ON ST. JEAN DE LUZ, Sept. 15. The British steamer Hillfern was fired on by an insurgent trawler off Gijon and later machine-gunned by a rebel plane, which tried to set fire to the deck cargo of oil with incendiary bombs. There was no damage. REBEL AGENT ARRESTED LYONS, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 1.30 a.m.) Juan Sanchez, an agent for General Franco, was arrested on a charge of swindling. He is accused of collecting £22,000 for the insurgents, of which only £2OOO was forwarded to Salamanca. REBEL PLANES BROUGHT DOWN VALENCIA, Sept. 16. (Received Sept. 17, at 1.45 a.m.) The insurgents carried out an air raid on Valencia, but an anti-air-craft barrage prevented the planes from reaching the centre of the city. One was brought down. Crowds c.heered as the searchlights picked out the raiders. The sky was full of bursting shells, _ but people promenaded the streets in an unconcerned manner.

Two insurgent, planes were brought down at Huesca.