FIGHT FOR MADRID

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 13 March 1939, Page 7

FIGHT FOR MADRID

COMMUNISTS' REVOLT SURRENDER REFUSED A DESPERATE STRUGGLE NATIONALISTS INACTIVE (Elec. Tel? Copyright—United Press Assn.) (.Reed. March 11, 2 p.m.) LONDON, March 10. Madrid reports state that, far from General Miaja subjugating the Communists, a desperate battle is raging, some accounts even indicating that General Miaja is cut oil from the remainder of the Republican zone. The Communists refused to implement their leader's promise to surrender. General Franco's troops are entrenched on the opposite side of the city to Canallejas and Barajas, where the Republicans bombing redoubts are fortunately inactive, apparently awaiting the outcome of the internecine struggle which is playing into thenhands. The Communists' most spectacular loss was the 17-storey telephone exchange which figured in many accounts of bombardments of Madrid and was further damaged in the latest encounters. A conflict in the Plaza de Manuel Becerra, which was supposedly settled in 'favour of General Miaja, engaged all the available weapons on both sides and transformed the streets into shambles owing to fierce hand-to-hand bayonet and hand grenade encounters. Meanwhile, citizens remain in the cellars, unable to join the food queues, while frenzied radio appeals, and aeroplanes skimming over the roofs dropping pamphlets, vainly urge the Communists to yield. Minor conflicts continue in the villages of Hortaleza, Chamartin, and Camillas, north and east of the capital. The result is slowly swaying in favour of the Republicans. Hendaye reports state that General Franco has released General Miaja's son after 12 months' detention as a hostage and permitted him to rejoin his father in Madrid, to which city he is possibly taking General Franco's proposals. Following Viscount Halifax's warning, it is learned reliably that Burgos has been officially informed that Britain reserves the right to take any necessary action in the event of damage to British ships.