ADVANCE ON MADRID

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 381, 12 March 1937, Page 5

ADVANCE ON MADRID

HELP OF ITALIANS. GREAT REBEL OFFENSIVE. City Encircled By Mines. Press Association —Copyright Received 12 noon. Madrid, March 11. Foreign journalists were allowed to photograph captured Italian troops. When told that there was no cause for alarm, one of the prisoners said in Italian: “We are not Fascists.” Two others gave the Communist closed-fist salute.

Government forces blew up the School of Agriculture by mines, and hand-to-hand fighting followed In the ruins. A message from Talavera states:— A rebel offensive involving 30,000 men, led by Italians whose desire to maintain their prestige forbids risking defeat, was directed against Madrid on. the Guadalajara sector and th Aragon highway to-day. It was pushed forward With the highest posslbl speed. An advance of 12 miles was achlev ed, but it cannot yet. be said that the capture of Madrid is imminent, because in the last resort an electrical ty-connected ring of mines round the city can be exploded. The gravity of the situation In Madrid led the Leftists to hold a National Council, resulting in the renewal of unconditional adhesion ft the Loyalist Goverment. It was de elded to place at the Government’ disposal all the military units organ Ised by the party, aggregating 30,000 General Miaja reiterates confidence In the Loyalist’s ability to withstand the enemy despite their delivery o' five successive major attacks.