FLIGHT OF SPANISH REFUGEES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20511, 1 September 1936, Page 7

FLIGHT OF SPANISH REFUGEES

THOUSANDS CROSS TO FRANCE FATE OF MADRID HANGS IN BALANCE United Press Association—B* Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received August 31, 7.35 p.m.) MADRID, August 30. The staffs of the American and German Embassies have left Madrid for Alicante and Hendaye. More than 5000 refugees from Irun crossed the French frontier after the insurgent ultimatum that they will begin a bombardment of Irun at dawn. It is reported that only fighting men remain.

“FIGHT TO THE DEATH”

LOYALISTS REPLIES TO REBELS

United Press Association—By Electric Teleersph CnovHght

(Received September 1, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, August 31.

Hendaye and Irun loyalists rejected the ultimatum. They are extending their trenches and are determined to fight to death. Two thousand women, children and aged people, carrying the barest necessities, crossed the French frontier by omnibus and on foot, at the order of the mayor, who is apprehensive ot a general bombardment. This movement has utterly overcrowded Hendaye, where many are already sleeping in the streets. The defenders, forestalling’ the attackers, opened a bombardment, to which the rebels replied with two ineffectual bombs dropped from aeroplanes. Two Belgian officers, including Colonel Roll, who helped Ras Naubn in Abyssinia, have arrived to aid the defence of Irun. The refugees are being vaccinated at Hendaye railway yard. France is tightening her military precautions on the frontier.

CLAIMS OF LOYALISTS MARCHING TO TOLEDO United Press Association—By electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received September 1, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, August 31 Colonel Yagues’s column of insurgent regulars, marching to raise the siege of Toledo, claims to have taken prisoners 1000 Loyalists during four days en route, and also to have taken 20 field guns, 16 machine guns and quantities of supplies. Government forces on the Quardarrama front launched an effective counter-attack, repulsing the rebels after their six hours’ desperate onslaught at Navalperal. DECISIVE BATTLES ANTICIPATED FATE OF MADRID IN THE BALANCE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, August 30. The British United Press correspondent at Madrid says that the fate of the capital will be settled on the Estramadura front, where a real rebel push is being made. The threat from Guadarrama has practically ended. Genera! Franco’s Plans. General Franco’s drive on Madrid from the Estremadura region was attended by minor successes, including the capture of villages along the Tagus. His regulars and Moors are supported by armoured cars, tanks and aeroplanes, also columns which left Seville and Cordoba for the north before Cordoba was completely surrounded by Government forces, who have already assaulted it eleven times unsuccessfully. A loyalist battalion leaving Madrid to oppose General Franco before he raises the siege of Toledo loyalists with aeroplanes and militia routed a rebel column endeavouring to raise the siege of Huesca, one of the key cities of the north-east, which the loyalists have been attacking since August 11. The rebels left guns, ammunition and prisoners in the hands of the victors, who are now at the gates of the city.

Rebels Held-up.

The insurgents are still unable to advance towrads Madrid from Guadarrama, where 30 rebels were killed and 60 wounded in an engagement at Barbatona.

The bombing of Madrid is apparently the beginning of a large scale rebel offensive from the south and from the west, the earlier objective being to relieve the besieged city of Toledo.

A lull continues on the Irun front, where German anti-Nazi emigres have formed a loyalist volunteer detachment, named the Thaelmann column, after the imprisoned Communist leader.

The insurgent junta at Burgos requisitioned all products from the Rio Tinto mines for the needs of the t-oops. It says that it will pay average market prices for whatever is seized. The rebels claim to have captured the small village of Casteliar 13 miles from Gibraltar. Rebel Allegations General Dellano, the rebel leader, broadcasting from Seville, says that 12,000 have been shot in Madrid, where the Government has increased the working day to ten hours, shooting any workmen who protest. Frenchman Shot

The Majorca rebels are reported to have captured and shot M. Guy de Traverse, the correspondent of “L’lntransigeant,” who landed with the loyalists.