REBELS HAMMER MADRID

Southland Times, Issue 23331, 15 October 1937, Page 7

REBELS HAMMER MADRID

WORST BOMBARDMENT OF CIVIL WAR LOYALIST OFFENSIVE IN ARAGON (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 14, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. Over 600 shrapnel and high-explosive shells, fired from all points of the insurgents’ lines, which surround threequarters of Madrid, fell over a wide area of the city within an hour last evening. It was the worst bombardment thus far. The shelling caught the people when they were leaving cinemas. At least 20 were killed and scores were wounded. The Foreign Office was struck, and international journalists and officials narrowly escaped. The Pyrenees frontier station of Porgbour was bombed by insurgent aircraft, thus cutting railway communication with France. The Bilbao correspondent of The Times says that the long-expected Republican offensive in Aragon was launched by 200,000 men, including international troops and picked Spanish Storm' Troopers, supported by 500 tanks, 200 aeroplanes and ample artillery. Fighting is proceeding from Jaca to Tereul, on a front of 160 miles. The insurgents claim that they defeated Republican aerial attacks in Saragossa, bringing down 24 bombers and nine fighters. An official communication from Valencia says that on the Upper Aragon front the Republicans have occupied three important towns, destroyed seven insurgent planes, and captured three airmen carrying Italian Army papers. The Republican generals are most gratified by brilliant successes at Jaca and Huesca. The railway was cut at several points in the insurgent salient. Huesca was rendered unsafe, and Sabinadigo, the key to Jaca’s defences, is threatened on three sides. An important road on the French frontier is in Government hands.