ADVANCE DELAYED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19881, 7 March 1939, Page 7

ADVANCE DELAYED

BID FOR MADRID

OVER-CROWDED BURGOS

LACK OF RAIL TRANSPORT

REVOLT IN CARTAGENA

RIGOROUS PUNISHMENT

(Elec. Tel, Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Ileed. March 6, 3 p.m.) LONDON, March 5.

The Burgos correspondent of the British United Press says that owing to overcrowding the Spanish Nationalists have forbidden people to stay in Burgos, where elaborate preparations are progressing for the administration of Mud rid a liter its capture. This, combined with the lack of railway transport, delays the advance .thither. General Franco has exempted all church .property from taxation, contingent on the clergy not exploiting property to itiheir own advantage. Official broadcasts at Madrid announce the complete suppression of the Cartagena Nationalist revolt with the aid. of the Republican fleet and troops despatched to the scene. The broadcast adds that a judicial inquiry has been opened in order rigorously to punish those attempting to “stab loyal Spain in the back.” Reports circulated while the Nationalists had possession of the wireless station in Cartagena stated that the bulk ,of the population, including the

garrison and dockyard workers, rose against the .Republic and captured the Republican fleet of three cruisers and 10 destroyers which General Franco’s air raids previously had severely damaged, but another version was that the fleet sought safety at sea. Later came the announcement that the Republicans had recaptured the station after street fighting and' the taking of many prisoners and the shooting of others.

The Hendayc correspondent of The Times says that meetings held in Madrid, Valencia, Atmeria and other strategic points support the Republican Prime Minister, Senor Negrin, in claiming that the Republican army numbers 500,000 men. The famous leaders, Colonels Lister and Modesto, are reported to have reach central Spain.