REPORTS & DENIALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1938, Page 7

REPORTS & DENIALS

HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS IN CATALONIA SITUATION CONFUSED. GREAT LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. BARCELONA, May 26. Republican and insurgent communiques are so conflicting that it is impossible accurately to ,sum up the trend of operations on the Catalonian front. Each side consistently denies the other’s claims. It is known, however, that heavy fighting continues over a wide area with substantial losses on both sides. ALICANTE RAID MOST FRIGHTFUL SINCE BARCELONA. PROTEST BY DIPLOMATS. AND CONSULS. VALENCIA, May 26. The raid on Alicante lasted 20 minutes, more than a hundred bombs being dropped by six aircraft. Ffty buildings were destroyed. Two bombs exploded in a market-place which was crowded with women. The worst damage was done in the centre of the town. The port was also bombed, but none of the five British ships in the harbour was hit. The Consular Corps, representing 18 nations, collectively presented its condolences to the civil Governor and decided to fly flags at half-mast for three days as a protest against the raid. The Diplomatic Corps also telegraphed a protest to General Franco against the bombing of non-military objectives pointing out that only civilians were killed.

The raid is the most frightful since the Barcelona carnage. The centre of the city is a terrible sight and the recovery of the bodies will take days. The raiders added to the terror by swooping low and machine-gunning the crowded streets.