SPANISH REBELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23330, 23 October 1937, Page 13

SPANISH REBELS

SUCCESS ON NORTHERN FRONT ADVANCE GUARDS ENTER GIJON INHABITANTS LEAVE BY BOATS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SALAMANCA, Oct. 21. (Received Oct. 22, at 5.5 p.m.) Pending the entry of the main body of insurgents, advance guards have taken over the control of Gijon. The invaders found the houses beflagged in the red and gold Carlist colours, in addition to many white flags. Political hostages were immediately released. Hundreds of Gijon inhabitants, including Asturian leaders, fled by boat as the insurgents encircled the town. Twelve boats were captured by insurgent warships 40 miles from Gijon, and the occupants were taken prisoners. The insurgents claim that they captured 6000 Government troops. Bilbao has broadcast an appeal for motor lorries and other vehicles to carry food to Gijon. When news of the fall of Gijon reached Oviedo four battalions of Government soldiers who had been besieged in the city for 15 months, surrendered. Thus General Franco is practically master of all the north of Spain. As a result of the victory General Franco will be able to withdraw large forces from the north and concentrate on the struggle in central Spain, but the Government will also be relieved of the harassing moral necessity of sending valuable materials to the north. Such supplies were a dead loss as it was recognised that they would eventually fall into the insurgents' hands. AN EARLIER MESSAGE CITY ALMOST DESERTED SALAMANCA, Oct. 21. The insurgents claim to have entered Gijon. The Asturians blew up houses and bridges. The Governor of Bilbao, broad-' casting, said the insurgents entered an almost deserted city, as the residents of Gijon had fled in panic to the mountains, but the militiamen had returned and had taken refuge in the mines, and were preparing further resistance. An insurgent warship captured a ship carrying 200 refugees, including Senor Thomas, head of the Gijon Government. General Franco expects to mop up the north in a fortnight, releasing 45,000 troops and 120 planes. CLASH BETWEEN WARSHIPS LONDON, Oct. 21. The Foreign Office has divulged the story of a clash between insurgent and British warships. It is stated that on October 20 the British steamer Stangrove, carrying 600 refugees, mostly women and children, was captured off Gijon by a Franco armed trawler. The cruiser Southampton rushed to* the scene and demanded its release from the Almirante Cerva, which was nearby, on the ground that the Stangrove was not in territorial waters. The release was effected under protest. The Southampton escorted the Stangrove to Bordeau. THE ITALIAN VICTIMS ROME, Oct. 21. The official calendar of the Fascist militia bears a large photograph with the caption " Dead of Guadalajara Vindicated." This is the first time events in Spain have been mentioned in an official document. THE GIJON PRISONERS APPEAL TO REBEL LEADER LONDON, Oct. 22. (Received Oct. 23, at 0.5 a.m.) The Government has instructed the British Ambassador in Spain to support the appeal of the French Government to General Franco to treat the Gijon prisoners with all the humanity possible. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain announced that 30,000 people had been evacuated from Gijon in the past two months by ships under the protection of the British Navy.