WAR IN SPAIN

Taranaki Central Press, 19 April 1937, Page 5

WAR IN SPAIN

REBEL ESPIONAGE PLOT. DISCOVERY AT MADRID. Further Shelling of Capital. Press Association—Copyright. Madrid, April 17. The Councillor for Public Order at Madrid to-day announced the arrest of 53 persons following the discovery of an espionage organisation. Documents that were seized contained the names of conspirators and passwords and described acts of sabotage contemplated when the rebels were closer to the city. There was also a plot to close house doors throughout the city and guard the entrances, enabling a massacre of republicans to be made Meanwhile the conspirato were htiiographing to the rebels the movements of loyalist troops. The organisation included disguised priests who were supplied with money from Italy. Several hours' truce at El Prado Park at Madrid enabled the burial of 50 dead in “no man’s land,” says the British United Press correspondent. There ntere strange scenes as coffin bearers exchanged cigarettes, remin-iscenc.-s and argii.xer,‘, ec trying to persuade the- other that he was espousing a lost cause. While m mbers 01 the House of Commons, the Duchess of Atholl ;w<l Miss Ellen Wilkinson were le. ui . at the Gran Via. Hotel, the insurgents recommenced bombarding -the city. A shell crashed in a theatre opposite kjllilng eight persons and injuring many. The shelling continued throughout the day. Fifteen tverr killed and 40 injured.