THE SPANISH WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23682, 14 December 1938, Page 13

THE SPANISH WAR

REBEL ATTACKS ON SHIPPING DAMAGE TO BRITISH VESSELS NO DETAILED CLAIMS LODGED (British Official Wireless) (Umtea Press Association) (By Electric Telegram-. Copyright) RUGBY, Dec. 12. In a House of Commons answer Mr R. A. Butler (Foreign Undersecretary) said that since the outbreak of the Spanish civil war 120 incidents in which British ships had suffered interference or damage by Spanish Nationalist forces had occurred. In 19 of these cases the ships concerned had been in territorial waters. The bulk of the damage had been relatively slight. The British Government held General Franco's forces responsible for all these incidents.

Forty-eight officers and men, and three non-intervention officers had lost their lives in these attacks. Sixty-four officers and men were known to have been injured. Apart from the case of the damage to H.M.S. Hunter no detailed claim had yet been presented to the Burgos authorities in respect of these attacks, although the Government reserved the right to claim compensation in due course. Mr Butler reiterated that, as General Franco did not possess belligerent rights and the right to take ships or cargoes to any prize court, General Franco's prize court at Palma was illegal and its decisions illegal.

GUNS ON RUBBER WHEELS EFFICACY AGAINST TANKS (Independent Cable Service) LONDON, Dec. 12. Mr Murns Macdonald, formerly ot Dunedin, who arrived from Spain with the members of the International Brigade on December 7, said that one of the outstanding military lessons of the war was the efficacy of anti-tank guns mounted on rubber wheels. They could easily be pushed into position, and were also capable of rapid fire with lib shells A direct hit would halt any tank The sudden appearance of tanks was terrifying, but determined infantry could halt them. Another efficacious method was to lie flat on the ground under the tanks' line of fire and throw grenades under the tank, where one usually found a vulnerable spot. MORE ITALIANS ARRIVE DRAFT LANDED AT SEVILLE GIBRALTAR, Dec. 13. (Received Dec. 14, at 0.30 a.m.) The Spanish Press Agency reports that the Italian steamer Firenze landed 300 to 400 Italian infantrymen at Seville. LOYALIST PRISONERS THOUSANDS SHOT BY REBELS PARIS, Dec. 13. (Received Dec. 14, at 0.30 a.m.) The International Commitee for the liberation of international volunteers from rebel prisons in Spain, formed at Paris, stated that of 3000 to 4000 volunteers taken prisoner during the war only 800 were alive, the remainder having been shot. The rebels shot all prisoners in the first eight months, and only began to Spare them after Guadalajara, in the hope of exchanging Italian prisoners.