HEAVY CARNAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 7

HEAVY CARNAGE

THE FIGHT FOR LERIDA END OF RESISTANCE LIKELY DEFENDERS’ UNCEASING FIRE United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received April 4, 11 a.m.) SARAGOSBA, April 3 Republican resistance at Lerida has been strengthened by brigades from the Madrid front, and International units of artillery now supplement the heavy rifle and maohlne-gun fire. Houses have been converted Into fortresses, and streets are criss-crossed with redoubts and trenches, from which the defenders fire unceasingly, but General Franoo’s warplanes are causing h«avy carnage. The rebel infantry charged and gained a footing in the first houses. The Republican position appears hopeless. Powerful rebel columns are approaching from the north west and are likely to end the resistance. SALAMANCA, April 3 A communique announces the occupation of outlying houses in Lerida. It says that Moorish troops took the first houses. BARCELONA. April 3 A communique admits that the Republicans have been forced to retreat • from the outskirts of Lerida, but their resistance is continuing. FRANCO’S SUCCESS CAPTURE OF A TOWN VAIN ATTACK ON LERIDA Iniied Press A&sn. — Elec. Tel. Copyrigbl LONDON, April 2 General Franco's forces, says a message from Saragossa, have captured Gandesa, an important Junction commanding the roads to Tarragona and Tortosa, only 25 miles from the coast, where they are attempting to drive a wedge between the loyalist forces in Catalonia and those in the south. The insurgents have vainly attacked Lerida, the source of Barcelona’s power supply, for four days, says the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The insurgents claim to have defeated the International Brigade’s violent counter-attacks at Lerida and also 1 to have captured Benabarre, to the north near the Catalan border, says a message from Saragossa. The loyalists claim to have continued their advance to Guadalajara. ■ says a message from Madrid. Loyalist : aeroplanes bombed Toledo, killing 11 , persons and injuring 34. BRITISHERS CAPTURED “JUST CANNON FODDER’’ A LESSON TO VOLUNTEERS United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received April 4, I p.m.) j SARAGOSSA, April 3 Ninety-six British prisoners, part of a battalion of the International Brigade, who were captured during the Catalonia advance, have arrived. They appeared to be a motley crowd, with cropped heads, unshaven faces, and nondescript clothing. A Londoner, John Myers, said that when they were supposedly advancing to a new position east of Alcaniz they were ordered to fail out, and were told that a mechanised column was coming. Suddenly Francoite tanks appeared round a bend of the road. “We had no alternative but to surrender,” he said. “I don’t believe more volunteers would come to Spain if we could return home and tell our experiences. We were regarded just as cannon fodder." The majority of the Britishers had previously been unemployed. SPYING AND TREASON TEN PEOPLE SENT TO GAOL H.M.S. HOOD AT BARCELONA untied Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrig. (Received April 4, 11.30 a.m.) BARCELONA, April 3 H.M.S. Hood has arrived at Barcelona. MADRID, April 3 The special Courts established to deal with cases of spying, treason and defeatism have condemned eight men and two women lo terms of imprisonment ranging from six to 31) years.