TEN THOUSAND SHELLS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 456, 14 June 1937, Page 5

TEN THOUSAND SHELLS

STRICKEN BILBAO HORRORS OF BOMBARDMENT Skeleton Blown From Graveyard Press Association —Copyright, (Received 12.30 p.m.) Bilbao, June 13. It is circulated that 10,000 Shells must have fallen along a three-mile ridge of mountains during, yesterday’s bombardment/. They fell at the rate of ten a minute for five hours in the morning and reached an avera/ge of thirty a minute in the afternoon. The Basques at Dario faced the Insurgents across a cemetery, which presented a macabre spectacle.. An eye witness states that a skeleton blown out of a grave hangs on a tree.

FALL OF BILBAO . CONFIDENCE OF REBELS Only A Matter Of Hours Press Association—Copvrlght London, June 13. Spanish insurgent headquarters claim the rebels have penetrated the “iron ring” around Bilbao on a front of 15 miles. It is claimed that the early fall of Bilbao is certain.

After repulsing a Basque counterattack the rebels broke through the weakest point in the defences and forced the Basques to abandon Gastelumendi Hill. While retreating the Basques were enfiladed from Lemona, resulting in the evacuation of Larrabezua, north of Lemona. This enabled the rebels to attack the last range of hills which dominate Bilbao. The Nationalists are now five and three-quar-ter miles from Bilbao.

Sixty rebel planes heavily bombed positions behind the Basque lines, setting fire to pine woods, for a distance of three miles. They also bombed and machine-gunnbd villages, including Lezama, where 30 persons are reported to have been killed. The Bilbao cemetery was literally wrecked. Graves were torn open and tombs shattered.

A Valencia communique declares that Government forces made a surprise attack and captured Naval Carzo, a strategic hili at Penarroya.

The Ministry of Defence at Bilbao announces the formation of a special anti-submarine flotilla to free Spanish waters of submarines, allegedly Italian and German, which are continually attacking Loyalist merchantmen. Situation Critical PrPSR Association—Copyright. Received June 14, 2.30 p.m. Bilbao, June 13. The situation in Bilbao is critical. The Insurgents have driven a salient into the Basque lines, which are dangerously exposed and may be isoTat-