VICTORIES CLAIMED

Wairarapa Daily Times, 12 September 1936, Page 5

VICTORIES CLAIMED

BY BOTH SIDES IN SPANISH CIVIL WAR, Press Association Electric Telecraoh—OonyriSW LONDON, Friday, Both sides claim victories in the Talavera region, where fighting is more- important than on the Iran front, as it may prove the key to Madrid. A. decisive victory would enable the insurgents to- relieve Toledo, and then strike across easy country to the capital.

The loyalists are faced with an- evertightening encnJcloment, and are desperately striving; to drive a wedge between the rebels on the Tagus and those operating south of Avila, Thus far counter-attacks appear to have yielded nothing. APPEAL FOR FUNDS. NEED FOR DISCRETION. CANBERRA, Friday, The Australian Council of Trades Unions having issued an appeal forfunds to assist the Spanish Government,the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) to-day advised the Australian public to remain neutral in the Spanish civil war.He added that the utmost discretion was necessary, as a dangerous international situation might arise. JOURNALIST RELEASED. (Received Saturday, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, Friday. A message from St. Jean de Luz states that the energetic intervention of the French Ambassador, M. Herbette, secured the release of the French journalist, Maurice Leroy, who was arrested when touring San Sebastian, with thirty English, French and American, correspondents. Subsequently the Governor of San Sebastian told the journalists that henceforth he would'take severe measures against those personally opposing the Government. At Burgos, General Mola informed foreign correspondents that he would take severe measures against journalists whose papers continue to describe his forces as rebels and the. Government forces as loyalists. NONINTERVENTION COMMITTEE. MEETING ON MONDAY. (Received Saturday, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Friday. A meeting of the international nonintervention committee is convened for Monday. PRIEST CRUCIFIED.

(Received Saturday, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Friday

The North American Newspapers’ Alliance correspondent at Gibraltar says that Joseph. Mason, correspondent of the “Columbus Despatch,” returned with a shell splinter in his leg after ten days with the anti-Government troops at Malaga. Mason describes the rebels’ entrv into El Saucejo, and seeing a parish priest, Father De la Cora, crucified at a church door, with his head downwards, in his vestments, while his brother’s body was below him. Villagers asserted that Communists dragged the priest from his pulpit, maltreated him and then crucified him. Mason says he took a photograph of the priest and handed it to General del Lano, insurgent leader, Avliose troops reverently interred the body.