SANTANDER ENDANGERED.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13639, 25 August 1937, Page 5

SANTANDER ENDANGERED.

BY INSURGENT ADVANCE. FALL EXPECTED THIS WEEK. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SALAMANCA, August 24. The insurgents claim to have captured a large number of villages in continuation of their sweeping advance on the Santander front. Insurgent airmen report that Santander is wide open and columns and guns are pouring out. It should be possible to enter in two or three days. Deserters reported the closing of all shops in Santander with a view to a ge- eral mobilisation. Twelve trawlers of the Santander fishing fleets have taken refuge at La Rochelle (France) to avoid capture. BILBAO, August 23. The rebels have captured Castro Urdiales, an important coastal stronghold. General Franco’s line now occupies a 35-mile front from the coast to Espinosa, the whole length of the rebel pincers closing round Santander being 70 miles, including the Asturian front. The rebel forces are now on the outskirts of Las Cogelas, 7-J miles from Torrelavega. An Italian column surrounded Pun to Ciesga, capturing nine tanks, 20 armoured cars and 100,000 hand-grenades. Rebel ’planes dropped tons of bombs on Torrelavega, Laredo, and Arenas de Iguna. The two last-named were almost wiped out. Santander, however, claims to have repulsed furious rebel attacks from Villaearriedo.