SAVAGE FIGHTING

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 August 1936, Page 5

SAVAGE FIGHTING

LOYALISTS 'BUTCHERED BATTLE OF BADAJOZ. <"roaa Association Electric Telecr» r.b —Copyright LISBON, Sunday. The newspaper “Oseculo” reports that 1500 were killed in the battle for Badajoz, mostly attackers in bomb and bayonet charges. ' The. defenders dynamited buildings in order to hamper the Insurgents. ■ \ • Mass executions of loyalists followed the rebels’ triumph. Two Government planes later bombed the insurgents. English and Portuguese newspaper correspondents who flew over Badajoz during the final grim resistance report most savage hand-to-hand fighting as the loyalists, with courage and desperation, contested every inch of the insurgents’ advance near International Bridge. Captured loyalists were butchered like sheep against the lurid background of the blazing city. ‘ Native troops, who formed a considerable part of the rebel forces, lived up to their reputation for ferocity. HEROIC AIRMAN. LONDON, Sunday. The British United Press correspondent at Barcelona reports that the loyalist airman, Lieutenant Cable, engaged four rebel planes over the Aragon front. He brought down a bomber and caused two others to collide, the crash killing the occupants. IRISH BRIGADE TO HELP REBELS. DUBLIN, Saturday. General O’Duffy is forming an Irish Brigade to help the Spanish rebels on the ground that the present conflict is not between Fascism and anti-Fascism, but between Christ and anti-Christ. EXPORT OF ARMS. LONDON, Sunday. The Foreign Office announces that the Governments of France and Britain have reached full agreement on the text of the French proposals regarding prohibition of the export of arms and munitions to Spain. The agreement comes into force when the assent of the German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian Governments has been received. The Russian attitude is understood to be favourable. Portugal has accepted the principle of non-intervention. The statement adds: “A final reply has not been received from Italy and Germany, and Britain today is urgently supporting the French Government’s representations to Rome.” France is now despatching a Note to the Powers. GERMANY’S REPLY. (Received Monday, 9.50 a.m.) PARIS, Sunday. The. newspaper “Le Journal’s” Berlin correspondent says that Germany’s reply is ready, and is in the affirmative. TRIAL OF REBEL LEADERS. (Received Monday, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. The Spanish Government has arrested 100 persons at Valencia. A search of houses revealed Monarchist banners and comprising documents, including a manifesto that ex-King Alfonso was returning to Spain. The trial has commenced at the Madrid Supreme Court of the insurgent leaders, General Fanjul and Colonel Quintana, on' a charge of inciting soldiers to rebel on 19th July. General Fanjul admitted complicity in the uprising, as lie was morally opposed to the Government. . AEROPLANE CRASH. BIARRITZ, Sunday. Two Fokker tri-motor ’planes flew over the city towards Spain. One developed engine trouble and tried to land at the aerodrome at Anglct, but crashed and caught fire. The occupants, believed to number five, were incinerated. The machine is believed to be one of four which left Gatwick Aerodrome, ostensibly for Poland. The British United Press says the pilot was a Polo.

ANOTHER FOKKER CRASH. (Received Monday, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. Another Fokker from Gatwick crashed, landing at La Rochelle. The only occupant, a Polish pilot, was detained. He says he was bound for Portugal. UNDIMINISHED FEROCITY. (Received Monday, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. The civil war is raging with undiminished ferocity. Both sides are shooting prisoners with or without summary court-martials. Some 733 insurgent captives, including priests, are reported to have been executed, and seven thousand are under arrest at Madrid, where the police opened the safe deposit of the Credit Lyonnais Bank and confiscated £2,500,000, mostly belonging to religious institutions. Father Luis Rodes, a famous Jesuit astronomer in the loyalist town of Tortosa, in Catalonia, has been allowed to pursue his work in perfect safety. His observatory has not been damaged. The victorious rebels are completing mopping up operations at Badajoz, and arc preparing strong defence lines around tlic town and reconditioning the damaged forts. They are awaiting the arrival of a fresh insurgent column with fifteen anti-aircraft guns. Meanwhile General Yague is reorganising his 4000 foreign legionaries (Moroccans officered by Spaniards) preparatory to advancing on Madrid.