ROUT OF ITALIANS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 391, 24 March 1937, Page 5

ROUT OF ITALIANS

PRECIPITATE RETREAT SPAIN’S NEW ARMY. Enthusiasm Reaches Fever Pitch. Press Association—Copyright. Received 1.5 p.m. Madrid, March 23. The recruiting for the new army has reached fever pitch. Suppllee and gifts are pouring into Madrid from the countryside, greatly raising the morale of the fighting forces. The encirclement of Madrid is impossible unless General Franco obtains huge reinforcements and better-class troops than the defeated Italians. A copyright message says that Mr. Ernest Hemingway, the correspondent, describing the line of the Italian flight from Brihuega, emphasises that there are jslgns of a precipitate retreat, with an estimated loss of 2000 killed and 3000 wounded, thus providing a major victory for the Government, after an eight months’ defensive campaign, and uniting the Loyalists in their fury against the foreign Invasion. A message from Tangier says that the insurgent authorities executed the Spanish High Commissioner, Senor Buyllaf, who was arrested at the commencement of the campaign. A message from London states: General Franco, the rebel leader, is reported to be hurrying to Sigue.za to take over direct command of the Guadalajara front in place of the Italian commander, General Bergo”zoli, whose troops, according to the: Government, are still retreating.

A Valencia message states' that the_ Spanish Government in notifying “tire" Non-Intervention Committee through-’ Britain that it cannot agree to th* Spanish coasts being controlled by nations openly intervening in favour of the insurgents, or that vjessfels'. flying the Spanish flag should be visjted by anyone. General De Llano, in a broadcast, admitted a slight retreat by the rebel's on the Guadalajara front. A Loyalist communique from Bilbao announces that the Loyalist* are holding .their own on all fronts, though bad weather retards their advance to Sign enza. Santander messages announce the complete evacuation at Oviedo, and the arrival of refugees at Grade.