ULTIMATUM TO BADAJOZ

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 7

ULTIMATUM TO BADAJOZ

LEADERS DEMANDED BY GENERAL FRANCO

CHURCHES CLOSED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) s London, August 13. General Franco, the rebel leader, has issued an ultimatum to the town of Badajoz to deliver up the leaders and avoid bloodshed, as to-morrow will be too late. Four rebel planes are reported to have bombed Badajoz this morning. The rebel battleship Espana and the destroyer Velasco have gone to San Sebastian to assist in an attack on the Government stronghold. General Franco has begun his advance from Malaga. Other troops advancing from San Roque will effect a junction at Estepona, where a battle is expected. The Government forces left 150 dead and several armoured cars when they evacuated Merida. The Government has ordered the closing throughout Spain of churches, and buildings occupied by religious bodies, which, in any way, are intervening in the revolt. Big battles in the north and south of Spain are imminent. The rebel cruiser Almirante Cervera lies off San Sebastian, with her guns trained on the city. It is reported that it has given the loyalists 48 hours to surrender, the ultimatum expiring at midnight. An eye-witness states that Government supporters have declared that they would rather blow up the city than surrender. Threat To Hostages. It also reported that the loyalists have threatened to execute 700 hostages when the first shell falls in the city. The hostages, who are aboard a cargo vessel, include some of the richest and most notable Spanish families. Rebel planes bombarded San Sebastian to-day, causing much damage and many casualties. The frontier at Hendaye is closed, and the boom of guns is coming closer. Anti-Government troops are pressing towards Malaga, which is as important in the south as San Sebastian is in the north. Rebels, broadcasting from Seville, claim that several new bombers attacked the battleship Jaime Primeiro in Malaga Bay this morning, causing such damage as to make her useless and difficult to keep afloat. The aircraft in the possession of the rebels are increasing in number, and air activity is growing. The air correspondent of 1116 News Chronicle states that more than 30 planes have left mysteriously for Spain from Britain in the last three weeks. Some were sold to the loyalists and some to the rebels. All are civil machines not affected by the ban, but they can be converted for military purposes. FOREIGN NATIONALS EVACUATION BY BRITISH NAVY. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Rugby, August 13. It is now revealed that since the emergency in Spain arose, 3078 persons have up to August 12, been evacuated by vessels operating under the dii ection of the British Navy. The total includes 1213 men, 1395 women, and 470 children. The majority were nationals of 39 foreign countries. British nationals removed from Spain consisted of 542 men, 722 women, and 208 children. These figures include all persons evacuated to Marseilles and also those who were taken on board the home-ward-bound liner, City of Hong Kong. A report has been received from the British Consul at Seville about foreign nationals in Granada, which is in the hands of the.insurgents and is invested by the Government troops. An agreement has been secured with both sides, as a result of which arrangements have been made for the evacuation of 200 foreigners by aeroplane, the first aeroplane leaving Seville to-day and being due back there to-night. Among the 200 there are known to be 11 British subjects, who wish to be evacuated. TROUBLE IN EMBASSY TO HOLY SEE AMBASSADOR REFUSES TO RESIGN. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, August 13. The Rome correspondent of The Times says that a quarrel on similar lines to that on August 11 has broken out in the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, situated in the Piazza di Spagna. The Ambassador, Senor Zulueta, a former Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, is proving tougher than Senor Aguinaga. He is determined neither to resign nor to quit the residence. He is holding out in one portion of the Embassy, while the Counsellor and First Secretary, who both are not in favour of the Madrid Government and who both have resigned their posts, hold out in another part of the same building. In the meantime, the police guard at the Embassy will allow none to enter, and telephone calls are not answered.