SURPRISE ATTACK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 5

SURPRISE ATTACK

-PresS Assn.-

Spanish Loyalists Capture Over 20 Towns THE ARAGON FRONT

(By Telegraph-

-Copyrigbt.)

(lleceived 2, 10.40 a.m.) VALENCIA, Oct. 1. in a surprise attack before dawn yesterday north of Aragon, the Republicans captured over 20 towns and villages through the River Gallego ValIey, leaving the insurgents only oue road to France, that being in the central Pyrenees. lnsurgent artilierymen were surprised sleeping beside their guns and were forced at the rifle point to turn the guns on their owu comrades garrisonmg Gavin, which later surrendered with the exception oi the commander, wlio climbed a church tower with a machine-gun and fought till he was shot dead. Moorish reinforcementa counterattacked, but were annihilated. Italians were rushed up in an attempt to stem the advance. The Government admits that the insurgents have advanced in the Gijon area. The advancing Iiepublicans on the Aragon front are only 11 miles from Saragossa and 12 miles from Jaca, which is the strategic junction of the Saragossa-Huesea road. A Rome. message says that an offlcial bulletin announces that BrigadierGeneral Bergonzoli has been promoted to a divisional general, the promotion dating from July 14, when the attack on Santander began. Although serving in Spain, tho bulletin adds, General Bergonzoli will be attached to the Italian War Ministry.