MADRID BOMBED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 222, 31 August 1936, Page 6

MADRID BOMBED

REBEL AIRCRAFT. i VERY LITTLE DAMAGE. Loyalists Urge Populations Tc Be Calm. MOORS MUTINY. Press Association— Copyright. Madrid, Aug. 29. Rebel aircraft for the first time bombed Madrid shortly before midnight, tour planes flew over the city and dropped four bombs and flares. Four militiamen were injured. Two bombs tell near the north railway station. The Government immediately issued a communique urging the populace to remain calm, adding that the Government knew how to foil the rebel raiders. Nevertheless the raid caused the greatest alarm and confusion. The rebels made a second raid at 5 a.m., but so far as couid >c ascertained there were no casualties. The first raid came without warning. Directly the noise of the engines was heard all lights were extinguished and what people were about took refuge in underground stations, where there were scenes recalling London in wartime. Neither of the raids did .nuch damage. Bombs fell in a garden and squares. The windows of adjacent buiidings, including the War Ministrj and the post office, were broken. Hand to hand fighting with knives and bayonets while the artillery maintained a constant barrage characterised the battle in brilliant moonlight on t, Irun front last night. The battle ceased about 1 a.m. when the rebels entrenched in new positions.

' Loyalists' Ammunition Low. ' The Government Lorcez at San Martial Fort are" running out of ammunition. Three, rebel planes which bombed San Martial fled when Government fighters appeared; otherwise the fighting was not resumed in the morning. The relative positions of the Government forces and the rebels have not changed. The rebels have lost so many men thi. they are awaiting artillery reinforcements which are intended to bombard Irun until it surrenders. The insurgents created a sensation when they claimed to have driven back the Government troops with heavy losses at Calzada, 60 miles from Toledo, as it was thought the rebels were at least 100 miles further away. Senor Gil Robles, head of the Right 'Wing group, arrived at Burgos to-day and conferred with General Moia. A Seville message states that General De Llano, a rebel leader, claims that 200 Government troops were killed and hundreds captured at Passioiiaria. ~. Red Libh battalions were broken up and 12 machine-guns, one tank and 23 lorries were abandoned in the battle of Calzada. , The Loyalists are reported to be blockading Suelya. , ...

Reports are current, according to a message 'from Madrid, 'that a regiment of Moors has mutinied. The rebels promised the Moors the famous Cordoba mosque- and agreed to allow them to build a mosque at Madrid. The rebels control 30 provincial capitals with a population of 1,812,000, and the .loyalists 26 with a population of 3,564,000. Artillery Exchange. ' There was a heavy artillery exchange, followed ty fierce hand to hand fightTrig, at Iruri last evening, but the rebels were again repulsed. The battle began around the church of. San Magdala, which was manned by Government forces, who were supported by artillery batteries. Rebel planes blew up the road leading to the church,. after which the rebels advanced. Hand grenades and dynamite bembs were used by both sides with devastating effect. Waves of Moroccans and Fascists stormed the crest to face machine-gun nre with heavy casualties. The rebels withdrew and began bombarding Iran. Shells, and bullets fell in French territory and a French girl was killed. A shell landed near Hendaye station. Because of the danger to the lives of citizens it is understood that the French Government proposes to demand the establishment of a neutral zone to ensure the safety of French sail. Attack on: Irun Repulsed. The Manchester Guardian's Biriatou correspondent says that although the rebels were again repulsed at Irun they would undoubtedly attack again. To-day's operations were apparently aimed at ascertaining the weak point on the Government's front. The morale of the Government forces wis good. Nevertheless''the rebels seemed to have more munitions than the Government troops, who were obliged to uJz them sparingly. General De Llano announces that he has begun preparations for the capture of Madrid. A plane flew over Madrid and dropped leaflets urging surrender, otherwise "we regret the great damage we will be obliged to do to the population and the beautiful capital of, Spain." The Times Biriatou correspondent says that the Prefect has issued a decree forbidding commerce in "long distance rubber-neckinjj, prevalan. hereabouts." The Prefect learned that householders and landowners near the frontier arc charging the pubde for admittance to their properties to survey the warfare through ■ telescopes. The decree states that this practice is immoral and un■•alubrious, and must cease forthwith.