AIR FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 January 1939, Page 5

AIR FIGHTING

BATTLES OVER BARCELONA WATCHED BY CROWDS IN STREETS. { SIX REBEL MACHINES BROUGHT DOWN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 23. A Barcelona message states that casualties in the air fighting were six rebel planes and one loyalist. Crowds in the streets, disdaining shelter, gazed upward at the sky and cursed or applauded the varying fortunes of the airmen. Others prayed as the raiders swept overhead, but there was no panic.

In yesterday’s air raids 27 persons were killed including six Greek members of the African Mariner, and 67 persons v/ere wounded.

FRENCH POLICY. ATTITUDE OF COMMUNISTS. PARIS, January 23. The French Communist Party conference decided' to support the Government’s foreign policy provided that the Spanish frontier is reopened; otherwise- they threatened to oppose the Government’s impending foreign policy confidence vote. WAR SERVICE NURSES. NOT ALLOWED TO INTERVIEW MRS CHAMBERLAIN. LONDON, January 22. Five nurses who devoted themselves to the cause of the Spanish loyalists, and were evacuated from Spain with the foreign legionnaires, went to Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country house, by car today in the hope of presenting a letter to Mrs Chamberlain appealing to her to arouse Englishwomen against the murder of Spanish women and children by foreign

Powers. The police guard stopped them and advised them to clear off, saying that they should know better. The letter, therefore, was not presented but will be posted.

WILL TAKE A CHANCE. MUSSOLINI’S PREDICTED ACTION. LONDON, January 22. The former Postmaster-General, Mr H. B. Lees-Smith, speaking at Cardiff today, expressed the opinion that, if the rebels are victorious in Spain, Signor Mussolini will take a chance from which a European war will result. LAST APPEAL FRANCO REFUSES TO HELP REPUBLICANS. GOVERNMENT WILL FIGHT TO THE LAST. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) PARIS, January 23. Senor Del Viiyo, accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador made a last appeal to M Bonnet to help the Republicans. After M Bonnet had reiterated France's determination to adhere to non-intervention, Senor Del Vayo declared that his Government would fight to the last,

BRITISH SHIP BOMBED. SECOND MATE AND MESS BOY KILLED. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) BARCELONA, January 23. The rebels bombed the British vessel, Thorpe Bay, killing William McClennan, the second mate, and a Greek mess boy. AMERICANS TO LEAVE. CRUISER ORDERED TO CATALAN PORT. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) BARCELONA, January 23. Americans throughout Catalonia have been ordered to be prepared to evacuate. The Consul-General Mr Douglas Flood, has sent a wireless message to the cruiser Omaha, which is visiting Ville Franche, asking it to proceed immediately to Caldetas, 20 miles north of Barcelona, in order to take aboard 30 Americans.

BRITISH SUBJECTS. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO LEAVE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.8 a.m.) . RUGBY, January 23. It is understood that, in the light of the military situation around Barcelona. Mr Stevenson, the British Minister at Barcelona, as a precautionary measure, has made necessary preliminary arrangements for the evacuation of members of the British Embassy staff as well as any others of the two hundred British subjects who may wish to leave. The cruiser Devonshire and the destroyer Greyhound are in the vicinity. No dec'sion on evacuation has been taken, and the arrangements are of a precautionary character only. GOVERNMENT NOT LEAVING. BARCELONA, January 23. The Foreign Ministry issued a statement today saying that the Government is remaining in Barcelona and denying rumours of flight to Valencia or Gerona.