HEAVY FIGHTING IN SUBURBS

Southland Times, Issue 23767, 15 March 1939, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING IN SUBURBS

Madrid Communists Hold Out HOARD OF VALUABLES FOUND (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Independent Cable Service) (Received March 14, 8.50 p.m.) MADRID, March 14. Although the Defence Council apparently has full control of Madrid the communists are holding the outer suburbs, where heavy fighting was reported at midnight. Many of the tanks manned by loyalist troops were trapped in pits, then set on fire with bottles of petrol, the crews being burned to death. The quelling of the revolt in the city has induced the resumption of trams, underground trains, cinemas and bank-

ing. Food queues have reappeared after three days without, bread. The Republicans claim , that normality has been nearly restored. After the expulsion of communists from the former home of the millionaire, Senor Juan March, who is a financial backer of General Franco, the police discovered a hoard of art treasures, jewellery and money, believed to be the proceeds of confiscations carried out by the communists early in the war. All the property was handed over to the Defence Council.

BELLIGERENT RIGHTS STILL DENIED NO CHANGE IN BRITISH POLICY (British Official Wireless) (Received March 14, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 13. Britain’s policy towards the granting of belligerent rights in the Spanish civil war remains unchanged. In addition to this declaration by the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in the House of Commons the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) reminded the House of the Foreign Secretary’s statement in the House of Lords last Thursday about the instructions sent to British warships, and said that the British Charge d’Affaires in Burgos had drawn the attention of the Spanish Government to this statement. No British vessel and no British lives or property had been lost since the representations were made. SURRENDER OF HOSPITAL SHIP (Received March 14, 6.30 p.m.) BURGOS, March 13. The Republican hospital ship Tetuan surrendered to the nationalists at Iviza (Balearic Islands). FOREIGN LEGION OPEN TO DISBANDED BRIGADE (Received March 14, 6.30 p.m.) PERPIGNAN, March 13. France has opened the ranks of the Foreign Legion to non-Spanish members of the International Brigade.