BASQUES STRIKE BACK.

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1937, Page 5

BASQUES STRIKE BACK.

COUNTER-OFFENSIVE ON MAY DAY. VICTORIOUS ALL ALONG LINE. GUERNICA PARTLY AVENGED. LONDON, May 2. The Basques commemorated May Day by partly avenging Guernica and celebrating the destruction of the rebel battleship Espana by an unexpectedly successful coun-ter-offensive. The Bilbao correspondent of “The Times” says that the Basques were victorious all along the line, the rebel attacks failing at every point, with a loss of 2,500 dead and wounded. Basque reports increase this to 3500. Rebel messages for reinforcements and ambulances were intercepted. The insurgents fell into a carefullyprepared trap when pushing forward along the coastal road from Guernica. Without meeting with resistance they erftered Berme, the former headquarters for the evacuation of refugees. At Berme Carlist volunteers received reinforcements, only to find themselves encircled by Basque battalions and artillery.

SUCCESS WON GAILY.

BASQUES TREAT REBEL ATTACK AS PICNIC. YOUNG MINISTER’S EXPLOIT. (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. "The Times” correspondent at Bilbao says the Basques treated as a picnic an attempted afternoon attack by the insurgents along the Bermeo Road. Senor Jose Rezola, the young Secretary of Defence, took a rifle and joined a battalion of plain clothes soldiers. The insurgents fled, dropping their rifles and abandoning material. Many insurgents were killed. The wounded were admitted to hospital in Bilbao. Senor Rezola returned to his Ministry with booty won from the Italians, consisting of a trench mortar, a steel helmet, three rifles, two gas masks and much ammunition. An Italian prisoner described the composition of the fleeing brigade as one Italian (battalion) and one half Spanish and half Italian. On the centre front; the Government troops defeated the so-called Flechas Negras (Black Arrows). These are Spaniards commanded ■by Italian officers and non-commissioned officers. Desertions from this corps have been numerous. All the deserters complain of inability to understand orders, since their officers had learned only Castilian, which is not understood locally. FIGHTING AT MADRID. RESISTANCE TO NAPOLEON RECALLED. (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.) MADRID, May 2. The bombardment continues daily. Loyalists dropped leaflets over the rebel lines warning "Spaniards serving with foreign invaders” that to-day was the anniversary of May 2, 1808, when Madrid repelled the invasion of Napoleon’s army and adding: “Madrid’s defenders are in our camp. Up with your hands! We await you!”

EXODUS FROM BILBAO.

THE REMOVAL OF WOMEN & CHILDREN. GREATEST OCEANIC MIGRATION IN HISTORY. (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. Preparations which are proceeding for the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao may result in the greatest oceanic migration in history. The Spanish steamer Habana, of 10,551 tons, now at Nervion, will carry the first batch to France on May 4. Three thousand children capable of maintaining themselves will participate in the first trip, with eight hundred to _be maintained in France by the General Labour Confederation, which has agreed to provide for a total of 2,300. Mrs Leah Manning, representing the Relief Committee, has telegraphed to Sir W, Citrine asking whether the Trades Union Council is willing to do likewise. The Sota family has placed its steam yacht at the service of the Basque Government for humanitarian purposes. These and other ships convoyed by the British Navy will fly the Saint George’s Cross as a special flag and as a compliment. UNPLEASANT SURPRISE. OBJECTION BY NATIONALISTS. (Received Monay, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. The British Embassy at Hendaye has informed the Foreign Office that the Nationalists strongly object to the decision to help in the evacuation of women and children from Bilbao and other Basque ports. The protest is an unpleasant surprise, dis it is felt that no objection is possible because of the humanitarian aspect.