THE EBRO FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23637, 22 October 1938, Page 13

THE EBRO FRONT

AN INTENSE STRUGGLE HEAVY REBEL LOSSES LOYALISTS OPTIMISTIC (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 21. * (Received Oct. 21, at 10.35 p.m.) The Spanish Embassy reiterates that the loyalists will not mediate or negotiate until the last foreign volunteer has left Spain. It adds that the loyalists are optimistic with regard to the course of the war since General Franco’s army is swiftly disappearing in the intense Ebro struggle, where it has lost 80,000 men and a large proportion of officers, who cannot be replaced, while the loyalists’ losses have not exceeded 40,000 General Franco has not made headway, despite dropping £ 15,000,000 worth of shells. BOMBING OF BRITISH SHIPS IN NO CASE DELIBERATE LONDON, Oct. 20. Mr R. A. Butler has summoned a meeting of all British ship owners engaged in trade with Spain. It is understood th t he ippealed for assistance in avoiding untoward incidents, and informed them that an official ‘nquiry revealed that all bombings of British ships since the Munich conference were not deliberate. In each case the ships attacked were within the areas proclaimed militarv zones by the Republicans, and the bombs were dropped from planes flying very high, making it impossible to distinguish targets. The only case : n recent months of deliberate piracy on the high seas was the attack on the freighter Stancroft on August 19. ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS GREAT WELCOME HOME NAPLES, Oct. 20. Vast crowds greeted 10,000 troops on their arrival from Spain. King Victor Emanuel took the salute on the march from the quay to the station. He was accompanied by the Crown Prince, Count Ciano, and Signor Starace.