REFUGEES IN PANIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 253, 25 October 1937, Page 7

REFUGEES IN PANIC

TWELVE CRAFT SUNK FLEEING SOULS FROM GIJON I MANY HARROWING SCENES (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Out. 21, 7.40 p.m. ST. JEAN-DE-EUZ, Oct. 23. Twelve crowded refugee craft from Gijon were sunk by Nationalist warships. Others are battling against a fierce storm in the Bay of Biscay. Small detachments of Asturians are still fighting desperately. f The warship Southampton, which arrived from Northern Spain, brought harrowing stories of the Hight of refugees after the fall of Gijon. Men, women and children wildly stampeded, amid a hail of bullets, aboard ships, including three British steamers. Many lives were lost in the stampede. The Republican destroyer Viscar, carrying refugees, was disabled in the sea battle and rescued by a French ship.

FEARS OF MASS EXECUTIONS

PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY Received Oct. 24, 7.50 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 23. Fears of mass executions in Gijon, similar to those at Bilbao and Santander, led to many telegrams to British members of Parliament, asking them to use influence to obtain mercy. An insurgent broadcast announces that a special tribunal has begun trying Gijon residents. The retort to the British-French plea for clemency has been in the form of allegations that Asturians burned and looted Infestio after executing civilians. The two Labour Internationals have issued urgent appeals to democratic Powers to send ships to evacuate refugees. PRESSING ON REBELS IN THE NORTH LITTLE RESISTANCE LEFT MINERS HOLDING OUT SALAMANCA, Oct. 22. The insurgents, pressing on after the fall of Gijon, captured Aviles, 20 miles to the west, whither many of the Republicans had fled. The only northern centre where the Government forces are offering resistance is in the mining area betwen Oviedo and Pajares, where the miners are expet r! to continue lighting. The insurgents captured 24 Russian tanks, many flame-throwers, much ammunition, and a few aeroplanes, and released 2000 political prisoners. BRITISH OFFICIAL IMPRISONED NO CHARGES FORMULATED. Received Oct. 24, 7.55 p.m. GIBRALTAR, Oct. 23. Mr. H. Merrick, Colonial Office auditor at Gibraltar, has been imprisoned at Malaga since Monday. No charges wore formulated against him. He went to Malaga on a week-end visit.