SAN SEBASTIAN FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 22443, 14 September 1936, Page 9

SAN SEBASTIAN FRONT

THE CITY DOOMED POPULATION PANIC-STRICKEN FIERCE FIGHTING IN TALAVERA REGION Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 12. Heavy cannonading broke a two-day lull on the San Sebastian front. General Mola is reported to have issued a last warning of a merciless attack unless the city, surrenders. Planes have dropped pamphlets advising the civil population to leave within 48 hours. Friday’s bombardment is a warning of the storm to come. It is believed that it presages a night advance. The Government forces defending the city outnumber the attackers, bnt they have no unity. Refugees to France say that the population is panic-stricken, Und that food supplies are becoming short., Pierce fighting is continuing on the tTalavera front, the rebels making a desperate effort to break the Government’s lines and open the road to Madrid. ULTIMATUM TO SURRENDER TYPHOID RAGING IN OVIEDO LONDON, September 12. The situation is growing tenser hourly in San Sebastian, where the, 48-hours’ ultimatum to surrender expires on Sunday morning. It is believed that the ultimatum will be disregarded. Colonel Ortega, Governor of San Sebastian, said: “We can defend ourselves for weeks.” The flight of the panic-stricken civilians continued when rebel planes dropped the ultimatum in pamphlets. The militia endeavoured to seize them all in the streets to prevent the population reading them. The rebels are shelling Hernani, five miles from San Sebastian. Women and children have been evacuated from Hernani. The rebels claim further successes in the Talavera region. Planes are dropping pamphlets in' Madrid calling on the troops to surrender, otherwise an attack will not , be long delayed. Typhoid is reported to be serious in besieged Oviedo. Refugees state that 72 died in one day. Shelling and bombing by Government *forces continue.

The expelled ‘ Times ’ photographer is Mr Jack Barker.

The 1 Morning Post’s ’ special correspondent with the insurgents was given the choice of remaining at Burgos, where his messages will be censored, or leaving Spain, He decided to leave. LOYALISTS EVACUATING TOWN Ml HELP FROM MADRID LONDON, September 12. San Sebastian seems faced with doom. A message to Madrid imploring help was received, the reply from the capital stating that they were unable to assist, and suggesting surrender on terms. This was followed by a report from Hendaye that the loyalists were evacuating the town, following the defeat of the Government militia on the Hernani-Oyarzun sector*, after which the Foreign Legion (Terrio) troops occupied the fort of Santa Barbara, preparatory to endeavouring to enter the town on September 13. SAN SEBASTIAN ENTERED NO OPPOSITION LONDON, September 13. A small body of insurgents entered San Sebastian unopposed. They came from- flernani.. The British United p reM gays that Colonel Ortega fled, and that the city is now entirely evacuated except for Basque Nationalists, who are patrolling the streets. Anarchists fired six buildings in the industrial quarters. The Basques are fighting the Anarchists to prevent further incendiarism. The rough element looted shops in the fashionable quarter. Thousands of refugees gathered at the quays at night waiting to be embarked in yachts and boats, which the Government followers commandeered. Men mostly of fighting age pushed the women and children aside despite their tearful pleadings. SCORES OF FIRES BURNING . LONDON, September 13. (Received September 14, at 10 a.m.)

General Mola’s three main columns entered San Sebastian unopposed, except for sporadic sniping. Anarchists set fire to the paper mills and the

casino, and threw incendiary bombs into houses. Scores of fires are burning. Before retreating the Government forces cut the electric line connecting Bilbao, and took all available rolling stock. Colonel Ortega is establishing his headquarters at the coastal town of Zumzya. ADVANCE ON MADRID TIME WORKING FOR LOYALISTS LONDON, September 12. A North American Newspaper Alliance copyright message from Toulon says that General Franco’s reported important battle for Madrid l on the Talavera front was merdly an outpost skirmish. His junction with General Mola’s troops at Sierra Degredos was only the meeting of mountain patrols. The rebels have, on paper, a quarter circle against Madrid from north to west, but have to dispose only 20,000 men on a 100-mile front in hostile territory against vastly superior numbers. Time works for the loyalists, who are daily adding to their knowledge of warfare tactics with fierce enthusiasm.

A siege of Madrid from a military point of view seems impossible.

PHOTOGRAPHER EXPELLED ORDERED BY REBEL HEADQUARTERS LONDON, September 12. The insurgents expelled the photographer of ‘ The Times ’ for visiting the front without a pass, but, according to 1 The Times ’ frontier correspondent, the expulsion was ordered by insurgent headquarters at Burgos for the following reasons: —‘ The Times ’ was prejudiced against the insurgents. It ought not to, call them insurgents, but loyalists or nationals, and it ought to call the Government supporters “ the Reds.” ‘ The Times’ ought not to keep a correspondent in Madrid, which was no longer the sea,t of Government. It ought, on the contrary, to have a special correspondent with the national forces. ‘ The Times ’ frontier correspondent points out that the photographer had a pass issued by £he insurgents at Pamplona, and had gone to Burgos to have it confirmed. After being lectured he was searched, his plates were confiscated, and he was expelled to France.

PORTUGAL EMBASSY REMOVED TO ALICANTE * LISBON, September 13. The recent transfer of the Portuguese Embassy to Alicante from Madrid, it is revealed, was due to the invasion of the offices by the Government, militia, who demanded that the ambassador hand over a document. When he refused the militia forced in the offices and set them on lire. A Spanish employee at the embassy was arrested, and it is understood was shot.

NON-INTERVENTION COMMITTEE MEETING IN LONDON TO-DAY (British Official Wirelaw.) RUGBY, September 12. (Received September 14, at noon.) Information is still being received from various non - interventionist Governments recording the measures taken by them to give effect to the agreement to withhold war supplies from Spain, and it is hoped that a complete record of these steps will be available for presentation at the meeting in London on Monday of the international committee for application of the agreement.