FINAL ULTIMATUM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 7

FINAL ULTIMATUM

Rebel Attack On Madrid / TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT PRELUDE TO DECISIVE EFFORT BOMBERS OVER CITY JBy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Nov. 24, 5.5 p.m. LONDON. Nov. 23. Madrid was startled early this morning by an attack by three rebel bombers escorted by fighting ’planes. They appeared at 6.15 a.m. and dropped incendiary bombs, one of which landed in a courtyard of the War Ministry, setting fire to five motor-cars and injuring four men. Another just missed the offices of the defence junta. Almost immediately a terrific artillery battle began, which was still raging this afternoon. * General Franco has uttered a final warning to Madrid to surrender, and it is believed that this is the prelude to a decisive attack. Valencia reports that the loyalists have occupied important positions in south Madrid. The Government forces claim to have gained some ground, and the only footing which the insurgents are maintaining in Madrid is the salient at the University City in the northwest, which is pressed on three sides by Government militia. Close hand-to-hand fighting is taking place in this district. Efforts are being made to evacuate civilians from the capital, and taxis and motor-cars have been organised for this work. It is hoped thereby to ease the food situation* which is beginning to cause suffering among the civilians. The Government defenders appear to have received military reinforcements in men and material. The British Government has so far received no reply from the Burgos administration to the request transmitted to them last week that a safety zone for foreign shipping at Barcelona should be indicated, as had been done in the case of other ports in the possession of the Spanish Government. Amid Gales and Mud The day’s desultory fighting at barricades and defending bridgeheads and other quarters, amid gales and mud, has not changed the general situation. The loyalists claim to have repulsed a rebej attack north-west ot the city, capturing two tanks in this encounter. The international column, including former members of the Irish Republican Army, behaved most gallantly. The rebels recommenced the bombardment in the afternoon, shells falling in the centre of the city. The Government has ordered the evacuation of the German Embassy within 24 hours, resulting in Ihe immediate departure of the few German refugees. Two hundred Americans are hastening to the coast in motor-cars after the decision to close the American Embassy. A Valencia message states that Senor Caballero has denied reports that he intended to establish a Soviet regime, adding that the Government's primary objective was the maintenance of the democratic parliamentary Republic in accordance with the constitution. The British members of the House of Commons arrived and conferred with the Foreign Minister (Senor Delvayo), who. according to the British United Press, showed them obsolete Austro-Hungarian and French notes found on a Moorish prisoner which had been given them as pay. They were told that they could spend the money in Madrid at the weekend. Avila bankers express the opinion that the Government has sent £100.000.000 in gold to France, the majority of which has gone on to Russia in payment for munitions. FEEDING INSURGENTS ITALY'S GRAIN PURCHASES IMPRESSION IN LONDON LONDON. Nov. 23. The Star’s City editor says that an impression prevails in the London grain markets that Signor Mussolini is feeding General Franco’s troops, owing to his purchases of Australian and Argentinian wheat when the Italian granaries should he full from Italy’s own harvest. AMERICAN EMBASSY ORDERED TO BE CLOSED. Received Nov. 24, 9.25 p.m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 24. The Embassy at Madrid has been ordered to be closed and the staff and all citizens willing to leave will be taken to Valencia. BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE NO PART IN THE STRUGGLE WILL PROTECT HER SHIPS ( British Official Wireless ] RUGBY, Nov. 23. Mr Eden, in reply to a House of Commons question, said: ’’The policy of His Majesty’s Government is to take no part in the Spanish war and to give no assistance to either side His Majesty’s ships will, should il prove necessary, protect British merchant ships on the high seas against interference by the ships of eithparty engaged in the conflict in Spain outside the three-mile limit. At the same time it is not the intention of the Government that British shipping shall carry war material from any

foreign port to any port in Spain.'' Asked whether British ships would be handicapped in relation to the ships of other countries, Mr Eden replied that it was not a question of handicap; it was a question of carrying out the policy of the Government. Mr Eden said that the British and French Governments were in close touch on all questions arising out of the present situation in Spain. SUBMARINE ATTACK CRAFT NOT ITALIAN AN OFFICIAL DENIAL ROME, Nov. 23. It is officially denied that the Cartagena submarines are Italian. INSURGENT SUBMARINE BHLT AT SPANISH YARD. GIBRALTAR, Nov. 23. It is now suggested that the in-

surgents possess a submarine completed at a Spanish dockyard since the outbreak of hostilities. The destroyer Glowworm has now reported that she saw the explosion on the cruiser Miguel de Cervantes, which listed 8 to 10 degrees and was towed to port, seemingly badly holed.