TRAIL OF DEATH FROM SPAIN TO FRANCE

Southland Times, Issue 23736, 7 February 1939, Page 7

TRAIL OF DEATH FROM SPAIN TO FRANCE

FRANCO’S BOMBERS ANNIHILATE REFUGEES REBEL REJECTION OF PEACE OFFER REPORTED (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 7, 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, February 6. A great trail of death runs to France from Spain, where 150 bombing aeroplanes have been swiftly annihilating weary refugees and retreating loyalists, says the Figueras correspondent of The Daily Herald. Figueras is a great cemetery. The hospital is demolished, the railway station is a shambles of 300 dead, and the river is full of bodies. The Leperthus correspondent of The Daily Herald says that squads of from 15 to 30 bombers, attacking simultaneously and surpassing even Guernica, destroyed a dozen villages crowded with refugees. When Seo de Urgel fell rebel troops marched 150 officers and men into the square and machine-gunned them as z anarchists. The Paris newspaper L’Epoque states that . General Franco rejected peace proposals offered by the loyalist Prime Minister (Dr Juan Negrin) through the British Minister in Spain. General Franco demanded complete capitulation; the Republicans refused, and suggested a plebiscite. A meeting of the Republican Ministers and leaders was summoned, resulting in a Cabinet split, Dr Negrin and the Foreign Minister (Senor Julio Alvarez del Vayo) opposing capitulation.

The Havas news agency reports that Dr Negrin and six other Ministers, travelling in eight motor-cars, one of which was pitted by bullets, entered France after handing over revolvers and machine-guns at the frontier. Havas interprets the earlier departure of the President (Senor Don Manuel Azana) to France as an indication of a complete breach with Dr Negrin about methods of further resistance.