REBELS TAKE ESTEPONA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 1, 16 January 1937, Page 5

REBELS TAKE ESTEPONA

Loyalist Setbacks LONDON, Jan. 14. Despite a Valencia communique deelaring that the landing of rebel troope at Estepona was repulsed, the rebel authorities announee the oapture of Estepona after all day flghting which began at 7.30 a.m. The rebels were coinmanded by General de Llano, who was aided by 31 aeroplanes, two cruisers and smaller wiarships, 20,000 troops comprising 5000 Italiana, 50UO Spaniards and" 10,000 Moors. They began a combined air, land, and sea offensive at Estepona, preparatory to an attack on Malaga fifiy miles distant. Estepona, a strategic point on the La Linea-Malaga road, resisted all previous atfacks and had been a formidable obstacle to earlier advances te Malaga. The thunder of guns and exploding bombs was heard all day in Gibraltar where fifteen bombers, including ten Junkers, were visible flying eastwards and returhing to the Los Barrios aerodrome outside Algeciras to reload. It ' is reported that twelve tons* of bombs were dropped on Estepona, while cruisers simultaneouly bombarded Ihe town. Malaga was also bombed from the air. It is rumoured that insurgent cavalry are advaneing from Estepona and are approiacbing Marbella. Twelve Government planes aTe reported to have bombed Lalines as a reprisal for the bombing of Malaga. 0$e bomb fell near a Dutch cargo vessel, killing two dock labourers.