THE SPANISH WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23393, 7 January 1938, Page 7

THE SPANISH WAR

POSITION IN MADRID EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS OFFICIAL DECREE ISSUED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON. Jan. 6. (Received Jan 7. at 0.15 a.m.) The Madrid corresnondent of The Times says an official decree makes it compulsory for 400,000 of the civil population to evacuate Madrid within 30 days. Food ration cards will be withdrawn from all those not engaged in military activities or auxiliary services. Those still refusing will be forcibly evacuated A NEW ZEALANDER ON SERVICE IN THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE A New Zealander who is serving in the International Brigade on behalf of the Government forces in Spain furnished his impressions in a letter written towards the end of November. “ Numerically,” he writes, “ the withdrawal of the foreign volunteers would not greatly affect the strength of the Republican army. Consequently any such withdrawal would have to be a proportional one —say, three or four of theirs to one nf ours. The Italian and German troops far exceed the number of volunteers on this side. No, the whole purpose of the talk about withdrawing volunteers is only an excuse to prevent France from opening her borders and also to give Mussolini time to rush even more troops into Spain. “ The International Brigades gave the Spanish Government a breath-ing-space in which to form and whip into shape a compulsory People’s Army, which is growing better-trained and larger every day. Certainly, we have lost Malaga, Bilbao. Santander and Gijou to the Italians. Malaga was betrayed by pro-Fascist generals who to-dav are awaiting trial in Valencia. These don’t think they are being made scapegoats. Far from it, independent neutral military experts have shown where the fault was in the defence (or, rather, lack of it), at Malaga. “ Non-intervention cost us Bilbao and the Asturias. The impossibility of obtaining arms and the largescale offensives of the Italians and Germans sealed the fate of the Basques and the Asturians. It is over a month since Gijou fell, yet we have not had the pleasure of having a smack at the valiant Black Flowers, Shirts, etc., when they open Franco’s ‘supreme attack.’ I forgot to mention that Bruno Mussolini has been bombing some schools and children near Valencia. “ Brunette, Belchite, Quinto all bear witness to the attacking power of our new army. It was before the People’s Army was formed that Jack Lovelock’s records for longdistance running were shattered by the ferocious Black Shirts retreating from Guadulajara. Next time we meet them on equal terms Mussolini’s dupes will beat an even hastier retreat. This war is being fought not so much on the battlefields of Spain as in Downing Street. Give us the right to purchase sufficient arms and technical equipment, and we would not even suggest that Franco's volunteers should withdraw.”