AMMUNITION SUPPLIES FAIL DEFENDERS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 452, 21 June 1937, Page 5

AMMUNITION SUPPLIES FAIL DEFENDERS

Invading Columns Of Spanish Regulars And Italian Legionaries (Press Association—Copyright.) Received June 21, 12.5 p.m. London, June 20. After a siege lasting nearly three months the Spanish insurgent forces, according to broadcast messages from rebel radio stations, have entered the old city of Bilbao. The British United Press correspondent at Bilbao says that half a dozen journalists were really the first to enter the city. They slipped in ahead of the Insurgent Army, crossed the River Nervion and walked down the streets. They found no Basque soldiers, but only civilians, who welcomed them. The final attack began at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday after a morning’s bombardment from the hillsides. The invaders comprised a mixed column of Spanish regulars and Italian Black Arrow legionaries, assisted by massed tanks. The Basques resisted strongly. Every cottage had been fortified, but lack of munitions caused their eventual retreat. Troops approaching the old city were held up by throngs of fleeing civilians, whom the Basque Government had ordered to evacuate the city. The defenders have abandoned the old city and are concentrating on the new city on the opposite bank of the Nervion. It is reported that the new city is fortified in readiness for further defence. Rebel troops crossed the river in pontoons and penetrated a quarter of a mile from the riverbank. They found the greatest resistance in the heavily-populated Portugalete and Barcaldo quarters. One of the first acts of the captors was to release 1 200 hostages imprisoned in a ship on the river. Three thousand women and children were found taking refuge in the Santiago Cathedral, which was not damaged. Airmen report that the retreating Basque Army is now about seven miles to the westward.