FIGHTING IN SPAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 29 August 1936, Page 9

FIGHTING IN SPAIN

IRUN HOLDS OUT Further Attacks by Rebels Fail i INSURGENTS DRIVEN BACK GOVERNMENT CONFIDENT By Telegraph—Prets Association—Copyright] Received Aug. 28, 11.55 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 28. After spasmodic fighting yesterday the rebels again faked to capture Irun, but important reinforcements are reported to be ar- 1 riving from Pamplona. The rebels r in several places were driven t back several hundred yards from [ pouts to which they advanced the t previous day. i The loyalists’ artillery maintained 1 an effective barrage. The marksman- 1 ship was good. It is reputably re- c ported to be directed by a French £ man. The insurgent artillery was c silenced, and appears to have been 2 withdrawn. An Hendaye message states that the insurgents’ attempts at Irun yesterday were unsuccessful. Insurgent ’planes, showing great respect for the Government anti-aircraft guns and flying at 7000 to 10,000 feet, dropped a few bombs, one of which fell in French territory. At the end of the day it was announced that the attack had failed again. Fighting continued on the Irun front early this morning, but as yet the rebels have not shown signs ol making a big attack. The Government broadcast was more than usually confident and claims that the insurgents were driven back in the province of Leon r and suffered heavy losses in Asturias -I in the vicinity of Oviedo toward v which three insurgent columns are t marching. t A rebel bomber flew over Madrid f in the early hours of the morning f but did not drop any bombs. t f The arrival of the first Russian Ambassador to Madrid since 1914 0 is welcomed as indicating the j, Soviet’s sympathy with the Gov- s eminent. y Threat of Famine. F 11 The Times’ Casablanca’s correspon- P dent cites the opinion ot a compel- 1 ent French observer who made a t hazardous journey afoot into the r centre of Spain, that the Government t would be defeated by famine. The r large farmers were either lighting or Jpatrolling. The cattle had been 51 slaughtered in many areas and nothing had been sown, while crops P had been abandoned. The country round Madrid had been stripped bare. If the railway to Valancia s were cut the capital would quickly 13 starve. 0 a n REBEL CLAIMS 11 MALAGA CAPTURED HEAVY LOYALIST LOSSES LISBON, Aug. 27. A message says that rebel broadcasts claim the capture of Malaga, 1< also that they wiped out 6000 loyalists tl in the Aragon sector. a ti GOVERNMENT FORCES tj b CENTRALISED COMMAND 11 MADRID, Aug. 27. A centralised command of all Gov* ernment forces has been completed. 11 will ensure a more co-ordinated campaign.