RINGING BILBAO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19334, 26 May 1937, Page 5

RINGING BILBAO

SPANISH REBELS CONTROL OF VALLEY GENEVA DISCUSSIONS CLAIMS BY INSURGENTS ATTITUDE OP ITALY (Klec. Tel. Copyright—Unitod Press Assn.) (Reed. May 20, noon.) LONDON, May 25. Messages from Bilbao state that the capture of Mount Illumbi by the Spanish rebel troops enables them to, control the whole of the Sarrotia River valley and command all the Basque positions to the west south-west and north of the Ncrvion River valley, which penetrates Bilbao.

The loyalist warship Jaime Prime.ro was disabled for some time as a result of a (ire following the, recent bombardment.

There is little hope of a truce, as suggested by Britain, General Franco, the rebel leader, having broadcast that the alternatives offered to the Basques were unconditional surrender or war without quarter.

A Geneva report states that Senor Delvayo opposes a truce for the'withdrawal of foreign volunteers, arguing that an agreement lor the withdrawal of volunteers should be reached first-

The Rome correspondent of the Morning Post says that Italy, while not openly opposing a truce, will not definitely lake action before her motives are clearly elucidated. She will also require assurances that it will not be detrimental to General Franco's forces, and, 'finally, that any withdrawal must be general.

A message from Seville states that General Franco has sent a note to the League of Nations protesting against the presence of a delegate of "Red" Spain and alleging numerous infringements of the Spanish constitution by the Valencia Government, and extolling the freedom, social reforms, religious tolerance and discipline of his own side which, he claims, is the master of two-thirds of Spain, all of the colonies, and half of the populat ion.