BATTLE FOR MADRID HAS BEGUN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20531, 24 September 1936, Page 9

BATTLE FOR MADRID HAS BEGUN

EBB AND FLOW OF STRUGGLE REBELS CLAIM BIG SUCCESSES URUGUAY’S CHALLENGE TO SPAIN United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 23, 10.30 p.m.) MADRID, September 23. It is widely recognised that the actual battle for Madrid has begun. The Government forces were successful near Oviedo. They also defeated a rebel column from Avila, which was at’-mpting to drive a wedge between the loyalists on the Guadarrama range and in the Tagus Valley, but the insurgents are making a most desperate effort between Santa Olalla and Torrijos, following the earlier rebel successes. The Spanish War Office announced late to-night that the Insurgents were repulsed with heavy loss, including the destruction of a Moroccan detachment. "EVERYWHERE ADVANCING” REBELS CLAIM SUCCESSES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 22. The rebels, after the capture of Maqueda, are advancing towards Torrijos, confident of soon raising the siege of Toledo and Alcazar, the last of whose four towers crashed down under the concentrated fire of the besiegers' artillery. Nevertheless, the rebels maintain intermittent fire from the ruins, while Government reinforcements are taking up positions north of the shattered fortress. “Pushing on to Madrid.” In taking Maqueda, the rebels killed and wounded 400, took 200 prisoners and captured tanks, armoured cars and quantities of arms and munitions. The victory enabled General Yaguess’ right wing to advance along the Tagus valley towards Toledo, the main force pushing on towards Madrid. Loyalist recruits are being rushed from the capital to oppose them. The Insurgents, except on the Aragon front, are everywhere advancing their troops, though numerically inferior to the loyalists, are being well organised and heavily armed. INTERNATIONAL COMPLICATIONS FIRST SEVERANCE OF RELATIONS United Press Association—By Electno Telegrapa—Copyright (Received September 23, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. September 22. According to a dispatch from Montevideo to “The New York Times” Uruguay has formally severed diplomatic relations with Spam on the ground that the Madrid Government is unable to guarantee the lives and property of foreigners. Three sisters of the Uruguayan Vice-Consul at Madrid have been assassinated by red militiamen. Rome messages indicate that Italy has protested to the Catalan Government because the Communists searched Consul-General Rossi, though ha was immediately released unharmed. Soviet Assistance. Reports from Moscow show that the second nation-wide appeal to aid the Spanish loyalists resulted in tl.e collection of £284,000. REBELS’ FRESH SUCCESSES VIOLENT ATTACKS ASSISTED BY AIRCRAFT United Press Association—By Electno Telegraph—Copyright (Received September 24, 1 a.m.) SEVILLE, September 23. General Franco states that the insurgents occupied Torrijos after a violent attack, in which they were assisted by aeroplanes. The Government forces are retreating to Toledo. Subsequently aeroplanes flew over Alcazar, announcing the victory and encouraging the survivors to continue their resistance until the arrival of the Yagues column in 48 hours.