MADRID SHELLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 9

MADRID SHELLED

INSURGENT FORCES TWENTY DEATHS REPORTED ATTACKS ON COASTAL TOWNS BRITISH SAILORS HIT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MADRID, May 30. The city was heavily shelled early this morning. Twenty people were killed. The insurgents bombed coastal towns. Their activities resulted in setting fire to the French steamer Djem at Valencia. The bombing of Valencia resulted in a sailor of the British steamer Pentharries being killed. The cook on the same vessel was wounded, as also were the boatswain and a sailor on the British ship Thurston. The sailor involved on the last-named vessel was critically injured, and was unable to reach shelter. The wounded boatswain, while returning to help him, was wounded again. A message from Tangier states that the French steamer Sikiang, en route to Algiers, sent a wireless message stating that a Spanish warship had ordered her to proceed to Ceuta. ITALIAN CASUALTIES OFFICIAL FIGURES ISSUED ROME, May 30. It is officially announced that since the battle of Malaga in February. 1937, the Italian casualties in Spain have been 2023 killed and 6996 wounded. WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS COMPLICATIONS EXPECTED GERMANY’S ATTITUDE UNCERTAIN LONDON, May 30. The Australian Associated Press says that six former British Army officers have been chosen as leaders of the six international commissions going to Spain to supervise the withdrawal of volunteei's. However, the Non-intervention Committee has still not reached a decision about the financing of the scheme, which will require £1,000,000. England, France, Italy, Germany, and Russia are required to contribute 80 per cent., but the Soviet so far is unwilling to contribute.

Further complications will certainly arise even if finance is adjusted, because the scheme is unworkable until it is acceptable to the insurgents and the loyalists. Germany’s attitude to the withdrawal remains uncertain. It is reported that Herr Hitler is anxious for the conflict, to continue, because it will obstruct implementation of the Anglo-Italian agreement, to which he is not favourable. NON-INTERVENTION SCHEME CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS ATTITUDE OF THE SOVIET (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 30, The Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) told the House of Commons that at the last meeting of the Chairman’s Subcommittee of the Non-intervention Committee very considerable progress had been made. All the Governments concerned had now accepted the British formula furnishing definition of “ substantial progress ” in the withdrawal of foreign volunteers provided for in the British plan. Three new proposals, which had been put forward last week by the British representative, were designed to dispose of the difficulties which had arisen in connection with the date for restoration of the balancing of the sea and land observation schemes and the method of withdrawing volunteers, Mr Butler continued. These proposals had been accepted by all representatives present, except the Soviet. Agreement had also been reached on nearly all the provisions of the draft resolution, apart from a number of reservations on the part of the Soviet. Mr Butler added that further meetings of the sub-committee had been fixed for this week, when lie earnestly hoped the progress recorded at the last meeting would be consolidated by the adherence of the Soviet. Replying to a supplementary question, Mr Butler said that Britain was attempting to obtain the adherence of the Soviet.