VALIANT BASQUE DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 23229, 18 June 1937, Page 7

VALIANT BASQUE DEFENCE

Terrific Fighting At

Bilbao

HEAVY CASUALTIES ON . BOTH SIDES

(United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, June 13. The Spanish insurgents admit that the Basques are contesting every inch of the advance on Bilbao. Terrine fighting continues on the outskirts of Bilbao, and the hills are reported to be covered with dead. Amid an orgy of bloodshed, carnage and destruction and the tragic flight of the Basque civilians, General Franco s encircling movement against Bilbao progressed today. After the capture of Galdacano to the south-west of the city, which cost the Basques 2000 casualties, the insurgents found the streets filled with the debris of weeks, wrecked houses, corpses, dead mules, broken glass and sandbags. The defenders sacked the town and dynamited an explosives factory before their departure. The insurgents claim that 10,000 prisoners have* now been taken since the “iron belt” was broken. Perhaps the most significant news is the numbei fleeing from Bilbao. It is estimated that over 20,000 people have reached Santander from Bilbao in the past few days. The Dario correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that a mixed brigade of Italians and Spaniards occupied Algorta, on the eastern flank of the Bilbao estuary, which has effectively closed the harbour entrance. The Las Arenas bridge over the estuary, a gigantic structure costing £500,000, was blown up by retreating Asturian miners. “Tweedledum” has become “Tweedledee,” according to the latest insurgent communication, which with grim irony, labels the Government supporters “rebels” and declares: "The Basques will be responsible if the war is carried to the middle of Bilbao,- as General Franco brings only peace and has no rancour against those who have been misguided enough to rebel against him.*’ The communication goes on to accuse the Basques of all the destruction and atrocities in the past few weeks. _lt adds that they are terrorized by foreign leaders and only 100 per cent. Spaniards are fighting on behalf of General Franco.

ITALY AND GERMANY RETURN COMMITTEE AND PATROL (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 16. The German and Italian Ambassadors to London have informed the chairman of the Non-Intervention Committee (the Earl of Plymouth) that as the result of the quadrilateral agreement Germany and Italy have decided to resume their co-operation in the Non-Intervention Committee and an active part in the patrol duties in Spanish waters. Their decision was communicated . to the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), who said: “The House will note that the two governments have, now taken this action in advance of receipt of the assurances which have been asked from the two parties in Spain.” Answering a question about foreign assistance to the two sides, Mr Eden said that since the agreement of February 20 the flow of foreign nationals had been checked. The British Government would continue to work to prevent foreign combatants and supplies of ■ war materials reaching Spain and especially to secure agreement on the withdrawal of all foreign combatants. CHANGE IN BRITISH PATROL LONDON, June 16. The British Admiralty has announced that in order to rest the personnel of the destroyers of the Mediterranean Fleet now engaged on patrol duty on the south and east coasts of Spain, the First Mine-Sweeping Flotilla will take a turn and carry out a month’s duty from July 12. BURIAL OF DEUTSCHLAND VICTIMS GRAVES BESIDE MEN KILLED AT JUTLAND BERLIN, June 16. The pocket battleship Deutschland has arrived at Wilhelmshaven carrying the bodies of the 31 members of her crew who were killed on May 30. The bodies were borne to the cemetery where they were buried beside the officers and men killed at Jutland. They were carried on lorries and were escorted by marines through the streets, where pylons flamed at every comer.