LOYALISTS’ DEFENCE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 385, 17 March 1937, Page 5

LOYALISTS’ DEFENCE

CITIES BOMBED. MADRID AND BARCELONA Capital a Veritable Fortress. Press Association—Copyright. Received 11.30 a.m. Barcelona, March 16. Five insurgent aeroplanes bombed the harbour and city. Four were killed and 13 injured. A sailing ship was sunk. A message from London states':— For the first time for a fortnight insurgent planes bombed the centre of Madrid last night. Interviewed by the Paris Soir’s Madrid correspondent. General Mlaja said: “Spain to-day is invaded by regular Italian and German troops, but the Spanish people will not give way. Spain is not Abyssinia, and as long as there are living men in front of Madrid the Italians will not pass.” The insurgents after Saturday’s retreat are reforming behind the original lines' with a view to counter-at-tacking. Meanwhile the LoyalisTs are bombing all the rebel troop concentrations. The position is generally Unchanged, both sides demanding a rest after the savage, exhausting intierchange of attack and counter-at-tack.

A novelty of the defence of Madrid is a propaganda gun which hurls leaflets, newspapers and photographs of captured Italians into the rebel lines. Madrid is now a veritable fortress. It is short of food, but is crammed with ammunition and is prepared to withstand to the last the most desperate rebel attack.

The use of the British flag on a Spanish vessel in Spanish waters recently was the subject of a question in the House of Commons. Lord Cranborne, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in reply, said that the employment of ruses such as the use of a neutral flag by a merchant ship in order to escape capture 'by the enernv was a right which. Was w-' -n.

ed under international law and this.' case would not therefore justify the. representations' which were suggested by the questioner.