WAR IN SPAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20387, 30 December 1937, Page 7

WAR IN SPAIN

ATROCITIES BY REBELS MANY SENTENCED TO DEATH BASQUES APPEAL TO BRITAIN United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright PARIS, December 28 The Basque President, Signor Aguirre, said he' had successfully appealed to Britain to use its influence to prevent the execution of 1000 Basques, and the rebels had decided to stay the executions.

He added, however, that the insurgent atrocities continue without respite. Another thousand have been sentenced to death.

The executions for December total 147. Ten thousand prisoners are crowded in the Bilbao gaols. Garotting is also prevalent. This barbarity was unknown in the Basque country until the rebels arrived. General Franco intends to reduce the Basque population and to plant colonies from other parts of Spain because he knew he could never conquer the Basque spirit. PRISONERS’ LIVES SAVED PREVENTION OF REPRISALS EFFORTS OF THE BRITISH United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received Dec. 30, 2 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 29 The Foreign Office discloses that British representatives at Barcelona, co-operating with the Red Cross, saved the lives of 400 prisoners by arranging to exchange 200 on each side when General Franco's captives were sentenced to death, which, if carried out, would have meant reprisals by Republicans on a similar scale. SEMINARY AND CONVENT CAPTURED BY THE LOYALISTS -THE DEFENDERS DRIVEN OUT United Press Assn.—Elec. rel. copyrtghi (Received Dec. 30, 11 a.m.) MADRID, Dec. 29 The capture of the Teruel seminary followed storming by Government troops. The defenders were driven out of the convent of Santa Clara nearby. I lie seminary and the convent are reported to be on lire. '

A BAN ON MAILS GREAT DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED FRANCO'S CHRISTMAS GESTURE United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright lIENDAYE, December 28 The insurgent authorities have banned entry to France of all mails and parcels from Spain. The reason given is that developments of the greatest importance are expected soon. The Republicans say that the ban is due to trouble behind the rebel lines. r lhc mail blockade particularly applies to Navarre, where Carlist, troops recently ret used to go to the Aragon lront. SALAMANCA, December 28 As a Christmas gesture General franco has commuted the death sentences on 25 Republican prisoners, including a Russian woman who was captured when lighting in the trenches at Brunete. ATTACK ON ANDALUSIA SUCCESS OF THE LOYALISTS GERMAN TROOPS FIGHTING

United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Dec. 29 The Gibraltar correspondent of tile Daily Telegraph says the Spanish Government forces are attacking in Andalusia as well as in Teruel . and have captured several positions. The insurgents deny Government successes in Andalusia, but it is significant that lorry loads of German infantry from Algeciras, in full lighting kit and armed with the latest automatic rilles, passed northward of Gibraltar in the direction of Malaga.