THREAT TO MADRID

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 9

THREAT TO MADRID

REBELS CAPTURE MAQUEDA LOYALIST TROOPS DEMORALISED 69VERKMENT PREPARING “VERDUN LIRE ” Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SEVILLE, September 22. Insurgents captured 'Maqueda, 50 miles south-west of Madrid, which the Government troops regarded as impregnable, being protected by three rows of barbed wire entanglements and cement fortifications. Maqueda is at the junction of the main roads to Madrid and Toledo, to which the way is now open. The Government troops, completely demoralised, fled towards Madrid, insurgents in armoured cars pursuing them. The Government is preparing for a great effort to save Madrid. Battalion after battalion of militia is leaving the capital for what is termed the Government’s Verdun line. FENCE'S GLOOMY VIEW INFLUENCE OF GERMANY FELT LONDON, September 22. The ‘ Manchester Guardian’s ’ Paris correspondent reports that responsible French quarters take the gloomiest view of events in Spain, where it is felt that Germany is helping the rebels not merely for the sake of smashing Bolshevism, but as a precise plan to place the victorious junta under German influence, from which she later hopes to gain a footing in Africa, with the Spanish territory of Riomuni as a stepping stone. It is similarly Alleged that only Italy’s air resistance repelled the Catalan expedition at Majorca, where old Spanish and Italian flags are flying side by side. DRIVE TOWARDS CAPITAL REBELS ADVANCING ON MOST FRONTS LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 12.30 p.m.) In taking Maqueda the rebels killed or wounded 400, took 200 prisoners, and captured tanks, armoured cars, and quantities of arms and munitions; The victory enabled General Yagues’s right wing to advance along the Tagus Valley towards Toledo, the main force pushing on towards Madrid. Loyalist recruits are being' rushed from the capital to oppose them. The insurgents, except on the Aragon front, are everywhere advancing. Their troops, though numerically inferior to the loyalists, are being well organised and heavily armed. SIEGE OF TOLEDO ALCAZAR REBELS STILL HOLDING OUT. *» LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 1.5 p.m.)

The rebels, after the capture of Maqueda, are advancing towards Terri] os, and are confident of soon raising the siege of the Toledo Alcazar, the last of whose four towers crashed down under the concentrated fire of the besiegers’ artillery. Nevertheless, the rebels maintain intermittent fire from the ruins, while Government reinforcements are taking up positions north of the shattered fortress.