REBELS ADVANCE ON BILBAO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 103, 18 May 1937, Page 7

REBELS ADVANCE ON BILBAO

-Preas Aggn.-

Loyalists Forced Back Under Heavy Fire - — — / THOUSANDS INJURED c,

(By Tslegraph-

-Copyrieht.)

(Eeceived 18, 1.30 p.m.) BILBAO, May 17. Set on fire by incendiary rebel " bombs and then macbine-gunned. Amorevieta and Lemona suffered material damage, comparable with Burango, Eibar and Guernica. but with less loss of life." The rebels have captured Maunguia and Ooricica. Amorevieta i§ of extreme military importance and its capture is essential before the final rebel assault can bo Jaunched upon the whole line of Bil-* bao's main defences. Therefore 30,000 Basquee desperately defended it but wero outflanhed. The defendew, according to General Hoia,- lost 1000 killed and 3000 wonnded, mostly by maehinO'gun Sre after an aerial beenbing. The main bodies of rebel infantry are now irithin two milep of Amqrevieta which tbeir patrols have already entered, After the Loyalist evacuation General Mola refrained from throwing'in stronger forces because the town is still doxninatcd by Basane artillery which is now bombarding it. The crushing superiority of rebel aviation and heavy guns is ominous for the loyalists. The Basques re-occupied the whole of Mount Nizearuui, scoring a signal atrategical guccess.