REBEL PROTEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19315, 4 May 1937, Page 5

REBEL PROTEST

EVACUATION AID REFUGEES FROM BILBAO SUSPICIOUS OF RUSSIANS PLAN TO WRECK TOWNS WARNING BY FRANCO (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 4, noon.) LONDON, May 3. The British Embassy at Hcndaye has informed the Foreign Office that the Spanish insurgents strongly object to the British Government's decision to help in the evacuation of women and childres from Bilbao and other Basque ports. The protest is an unpleasant surprise, as itis felt that no objection was possible because of the humanitarian aspect.

The British Government has received a communication from General Franco alleging that tho evacuation is a ruse by the Russians, who are alleged to be in command of Bilbao, to get' rid of the civil population and destroy the city and other towns; General Franco adds that he cannot guarantee the safety of consulates or undertake not to bomb port shipping as military objectives are situated in t-ne neighbourhood.

The Spanish Embassy at London describes the allegations as absolute rubbish.

It is understood that the British and French arrangements for evacuation have been completed. The first contingent ot 5000, mainly children, is ready to leave Bilbao. The insurgents to-day made two airbombing raids on Bilbao. Little- damage was caused Greatest in History Preparations which are proceeding for the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao may result in the greatest oceanic migration in history. The Spanish steamer Habana, 10,651 tons, now at Nervion, will carry the first batch to France on Tuesday. Three thousand children, capable of maintaining themselves, will participate in the first trip, with 800, to be maintained in France by the General Labour Confederation, which lias agreed to provide for a total ot 2300.

Mrs. Leah Mailing, representing the Spanish Relief Committee, has telegraphed Sir Walter Citrine, secretary of the Trades Union Council, asking whether the council is willing to do likewise.

The Sota family has placed a steam yacht at the service of the Basque Government for humanitarian purposes. This and other ships convoyed by the British Navy will fly St. George's Cross as a special flag and as a compliment. The Bilbao correspondent of The Times says that the Basques treated as a picnic 'the attempted afternoon attack bv the insurgent troops along the Bermeo road. Minister as Soldier Senor .Jose Rezolo, the young Secretary for Defence, took a rifle and joined a battalion of plain clothes soldiers. The insurgents fled, dropping their rifles and abandoning material. Many insurgents were killed. The wounded were admitted to the hospital at Bilbao. Senor Rozola returned to the Ministry with booty won from the .Italians, consisting of a trench mortar, a steel helmet, three rifles, two gas masks and much ammunition.

An Italian prisoner described the composition of the fleeing brigade as half Spanish and half Italian.

On the centre front, the Government troops defeated the so-called Fleohas Negras (Black Arrows). These are Spaniards commanded by Italian officers and non-commissioned "officers. Desertions from this corps have beeji numerous. All the men complain of their inability to understand the orders, since the officers had learned only the Castilian tongue, which is not understood locally.