FIELD GUNS FOR REBELS

Southland Times, Issue 23376, 7 December 1937, Page 7

FIELD GUNS FOR REBELS

Foreign Escort For Merchantmen ITALIAN AND GERMAN WARSHIPS 5000 MOORS LANDING EVERY DAY IN SOUTH (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 6, 11.5 p.m.) GIBRALTAR, December 6. A Spanish Government (loyalist) agency reports that a convoy of rebel merchantmen, escorted by three Italian destroyers and two German submarines, unloaded a cargo of 1000 field guns and 10,000 tons of war material. Five thousand Moorish troops are landing every day at Algeciras from Ceuta (Spanish Morocco). DEADLY OFFENSIVE PREDICTED TIME AND PLACE OF REBEL DRIVE NOT REVEALED LONDON, November 28. General Franco is about to launch a deadly offensive, but the time, place and immediate objectives have not been disclosed. San Sebastian, Bilbao, Vittoria and Pamplona have been emptied of troops which have been sent to the south, and immense quantities of war material have been despatched to the Madrid, Cordoba and Aragon fronts. General Franco’s army has been reinforced by 8000 Asturian and 33,000 Bilbao and Santander prisoners, who are proving willing and capable soldiers. The Hendaye correspondent of The Daily Mail confirms news of the early opening of a thrice-postponed rebel offensive. His main fronts have been reinforced by from 50,000 to 76,000 experienced and well-rested troops. He has 1000 aeroplanes available, and 1500 guns are concentrated on one front. LABOUR MEMBERS ON VISIT TO SPAIN TOUR OF CENTRAL FRONTS BARCELONA, December 5. The three Labour members of the House of Commons who are visiting Spain in reply to an invitation from the Spanish Government —Major C. R. Attlee (Leader of the Labour Opposition), Mr Philip Noel Baker and Miss Ellen Wilkinson —arrived at Valencia by air. They motored to Castellon and visited bombed towns. Later, after a visit to the central fronts, they travelled to Madrid by air.