MOMENTARY HALT.

Wairarapa Age, 31 July 1936, Page 5

MOMENTARY HALT.

BOTH SIDES PREPARING IN SPAIN. DEADLOCK IN MOUNTAIN i CONFLICT. IATTACK ON SUBMARINES BY AEROPLANES. LONDON, July 29. The day in Spain has been devoid of decisive activities, but full of preparations for resumption of hostilities on a large scale. The principal engagement was astride the Guadarrama Range, where rebel artillery and loyalist aeroplanes participated in a thunderous conflict. Though hundreds were killed on each side, the opposing forces remain in a state of deadlock. The loyalists are estimated to number 50,000 and the rebels 40,000. General Mola’s aeroplanes, augmented by three triple-engined bombers from Seville, flew over the loyalist entrenchments and bombed a line of Government troops advancing between Madrid and Buitrago, in order to prevent reinforcements reaching the battle front. A Catalonian loyalist expeditionary force destined for Saragossa advanced its line, but a general assault is held up pending the completion of the attackers’ dispositions. "If all goes well, Seville will be the headquarters of the general staff of the insurgent forces,’’ declares General Franco, who returned from Tehran after a consultation with General de Llano. Broadcasting from Seville, General de Llano claims that aeroplanes sent to Malaga destroyed several Government machines there. AID OFFERED BY RIFFS. General Franco states that the Riffs are anxious to assist the invaders by forming their own regiments under his officers. He requests the. British authorities at Gibraltar to instruct British vessels to keep clear of Spanish Government warships in the Strait in order to avoid damage during attack by his aircraft. Twenty three-engined Junker machines, twenty Caproni bombers, and transport aeroplanes are expected next week in order to convey Moorish sharp-shooters and Foreign Legion troops across the Strait. Activity all day long prevails among troop-carrying aeroplanes between Morocco and Algeciras. According to a wireless message from Seville, the seaport of Huelva, whose loyalist inhabitants were hastily preparing bombs to repel an expected attack had been taken by the insurgents, who entered Government offices and secured many prisoners and quantities of munitions and released Fascists from gaol. ONE SUBMARINE SUNK.

People at Gibraltar witnessed a thrilling episode when a rebel ae*>plane bombed a Spanish Government submarine patrolling the strait. The submarine C 3 was sunk when it was bombed by rebel aeroplanes, but the C 4 was able to proceed to Tangier for repairs. The Government claims to have brought down seven rebel aeroplanes. General Franco has protested to the International Committee of Control against the use of Tangier, which is an international port, by Government craft which are making it a heacKjuarters for harrying rebel shipping in the strait. The committee accordingly has constituted a Commission composed of the commandants of foreign naval units in the harbour to control the port and also to police the danger zone. Prince Carlos, brother-in-law of the Prince of Asturias, has left Cannes for Burgos, foßowing the departure of the Prince's aide-de-camp, the Vicomte de Roeamara, a week ago.