Battle for Madrid

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 26, 15 February 1937, Page 7

Battle for Madrid

Telegrfcph— PresS Aasa.

desperate fighting Cavalry Charge Against Machine-Guns GOVERNMENT CLAIMS

tB»

-Copyrigbt.1

LONDON, Feb, 13 Tbe desperate nature of tlie - Spaniaff rebal advance from Jar&ma . c«a be gauged from the fact that they hufled 1500 cavalry acroes a wrecked briclge in a half-mile charg# d.cr03g a plain against hills defended by machine-guns. The rebels boiri barded intensely, under cover of which, the horsemen advaaced. The animals stumbled at the bridge, but the majority struggied across and aurged forward in a solid mass "while machine-guns emptied saddle arter saddle. Nevertheiess, the cavalry reached the foothilxs and the riders fiung themselves off and left their horses with horse-holders. They advaaced on foot with hand srenades and won the crest of the hiils. Suddenly five Russian tanks roaxed into action from Loyalist •positions and Shelled the cavalry, the aurVivors of which galloped for shelter behind a bluff. The tanks .fchen paid attention to the Tobel artillery, compelling its partinl withdrawal. Loyalist infantry promptly left Vaciamadrid and traversed the plain under fire until able to occupy the trenche# previotisly prepared, only to be attacked by two rebe^ regiments nura bering 5000 who, crowded into groups Lotween rushes, were eubjected to the galling firo of machine-guns from 10 Government 'planes, which suddenly ewooped down from Vaciamadrid. The 'planes wheeled and returned td the attack to be met with fire from rebel * ' archies ' ' which earlier had been taken by sutprise. One machine-gun was blown to bits in mid-air by a direct hit. The reinainder of the rebel artillery and tank3 attempted to cross the river, but were checked by Loyalists, thus ending the first phase of what General Franco hopes will be a decisive battle in his cnslaught on Madrid. Both Sides Ctaim Successes. The battle for tbe.mastery of the Vaieueia highway, on which Madrid5 ■ food supplies depends, continuee. The Goverirment . claim s that it coun-ter-attacked for 24 hours and captuied important positions, the booty including two tanks. The, insurgents declare that they l-e-pulsed other counter-attacks, captur1 agi five tanks and three guns. Reports telephoned to-uiglxt state that iUBurgent motori&ed force» agam attempted to force Jaraina iu the aiteiv uoun and were met by a witheiing iire trom machine guns, mortars and rifles. fcicores of aeroplanes bombed tanks attempting to foree the river. lnsuigent •U'cratt arrived and the Government clainis that it crashed three of these 'planes of which one, according to ihe papers, was piloted by an Italian who was killed, . . , Tha Government asserts that all attaeks were deieated after six hours' tcri'ifb fignting with heavy losses. Meauwhiie, General hranco's forcea •gain took rne pffensive on other seetox's near Madrid, , makmg an espeeial titi >ft to reach the Aiugon highway in thf- Guauaiajaia ,regjon. . J?jght:ng «as recommenced at the Ljitv ersity City where, iu a battle which lasted througbont the mght, tae Government ciaimB to bave reeovered the greater part of West Pai'k. The kuthoxit.es are a;am uigmg the voiuntary evacuation. oi non-combut-ants in order to ease tJe food prubkin and avoid the dangeis of Oombardments and air raids which to-day, it was officially acnounced, killed 673 civilians (including 161 women and 2x8 clmdien) and mjured 1884, of whom ' nine hundred were women, since the atart of the siege. At Almeria the msutgents bombed the working class district, killing eigjiit. Uther 'gilanes dropped pamphlets demandmg surrender.