GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20503, 22 August 1936, Page 17

GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN

SAFETY OF MADRID ACCLAIMED SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS United Press Association —By Electric Tel egraph —Copyrlgb t (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. A Madrid message says that following a meeting of the Cabinet, Senor Sarabia (Minister of War) announced that Madrid was now safe. The enemy had been prevented from penetrating Guadarrama. The loyalists had dislodged the rebels from various positions, capturing considerable war material and food supplies, after which the rebels had scattered, being pursued by bombing ’planes. Senor Sarabin added: ‘‘Everything is going according to plan. We expect complete success.” He accused a bishop and priests, armed with rifles, of haranging the rebels in the name of Christ to continue the fratricide. He added that the rebels’ leaders were at loggerheads, some desiring to restore the monarchy under the Carlist, Don James, while others want a military dictatorship to smash the proletariat.

GOVERNMENT VICTORIES CLAIMED INSURGENTS SEVERELY CHECKED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 21, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 21. The Spanish Government’s claims to victories include that of the so-called Phantom Column, which after success at Medellin, marching to the recapture of Badajoz, defeated the insurgents, 120 miles from Madrid. The Government forces are also reported to have surrounded the insurgents at Huesca, except to the northward, along the road to Jaca. The other column defeated the insurgents trying to break out of Granada, where a Loyalist fighter brought down a rebel bomber in flames, the crew being burnt to death. The Government recaptured Antequerra, 20 miles north of Malaga. The insurgents are reported to be closing in on Cordoba, and to have captured the heights to the northward. Attack on Majorca A Barcelona message says that the Government forces again landed at Majorca despite resistance from rebel aircraft, and managed to penetrate some distance inland. A message from Burgos states that the rebels claim that the Air Force just outside Madrid revolted against the Government. It is reported that the San Marco fort demolished the rebel battleship Espana’s funnel with the first shot, causing a precipitate departure for Ferrol.

SITUATION ON IRUN FRONT ACTIVITY IN THE AIR United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. There was no fighting on the Irun front to-day, although an insurgent bombing ’plane dropped several bombs on the town and on the road linking San Sebastian and Irun. Government troops this evening shelled the insurgent positions, using incendiary projectiles and setting fire to the woods, causing the pickets to retire. The correspondent of “The Times” at Hendaye says that the insurgents have cut off San Sebastian’s main water supply, causing fears of an epidemic of typhoid. Penalty of Failure A wireless message announces that General Paoling and General Uzcudun (the famous boxer) were executed by a Government firing squad.

CATALAN BREAKAWAY DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. At Barcelona the Catalan Government has taken the vital step of establishing virtual independence of Madrid in Government matters and foreign affairs. OPERATIONS SLOW DOWN VIRTUAL ARMISTICE AT IRUN

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 22, 1.18 a.m,) HENDAYE, August 21. A virtual armistice is reported at Irun and San Sebastian, though the Government batteries at San Marcial and Guadaloupe, supported by a torpedo boat, shelled the woods at the back of Irun, which are occupied by rebels.

DANGER OF PROLONGED STRUGGLE MORALE OF REBELS WEAKENING United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 22, 1.18 a.m.) LONDON, August 21. The special correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” with the Government forces, considers that the civil war may run on indefinitely in the north of Spain, at least until one side or the other is short of ammunition. with which the Government forces are at present well supplied. How long the fervour of the insurgents will last is doubtful, as it appears to be already diminishing, owing to lack of money. Their morale is not near as good as

when they set out from Burgos almost a month ago. Loyalists Nearing Cordova. The loyalists entered the outskirts of Cordova, where heavy fighting occurred. The situation is unchanged elsewhere in the south. The phantom column, composed of picked Valencia workers, captured Guadaloupe in the Caceres Province. The Jamie Primero, which has been repaired, left Cartegena, possibly to support the attack on Majorca. The rebels say the* the Almirante Cervera is safe off Gifar. Reckless Broadcasts. At Seville, Senor Dellanos in his nightly broadcast, which is becoming almost comic in its ferocity of language, threatens to cut their thr. s like pigs of Senor COmpanys with all his supporters surrounding him.