THE MADRID ZONE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 7

THE MADRID ZONE

GENERAL MIA.) A MELL EQUIPPED. (Independent Cable Ser.ice). Received Feb. 8, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 8. It is reported from Lisbon that General Franco plans to rest his armies for at least a month after completing the Cataloniai conquest before launching an offensive on the central zone, where General Miaja, wit 500,000 troops, better equipped than the Catalonians and with a plentiful supply of ammunition, is preparing a determined defence, though the food shortage is likely to be acute. SPLIT DENIED THE LOYALIST CABINET PEACE NOT SOUGHT BY PREMIER PARIS, Feb. 7. Reports of a split in [he Spanish Cabinet were denied to-day by a member of the entourage. It is stated on good authority that the Premier (Dr. Negrini did not seek peace terms, and there is no confirmation of reports that the Foreign Minister (Senor Del Wi\o > di: cus ( d the subject SteVcnson, the British Charge d’Affaires. His talks with Mr. Stevenson yesterday concerned the exchange of prisoners. It is understood that France will speedily send abek al refugee militiamen willing to enter nationalist Spain. Others fgx whom return means death will probably be enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. It is expected that all impounded armaments will be taken over by the French Government. ITALIAN TROOPS WITH DRA \VA I. TERMS SURRENDER TO FRANCO ROME, Feb. 7. Conditions for the withdrawal of Italian troops from Spain, which are outlined by Signor Virginio Gayda, Signor Mussolini’s “mouthpiece,” include the surrender of republican Spain to General Franco and the return of Spanish art treasures and gold from France. GERMAN TROOPS MENTION IN BERLIN BERLIN, Feb. 7. The first references to the presence of German volunteers in Spain are creeping into the Press. It is admitted that they have been helping General Franco since the beginning of the civil war. REVENGE AT BARCELONA COURT-MARTIAL OF ANARCHIST LAWYER. (Independent Cable Service.) Rceived Feb. 9, 1 a.m. BARCELONA, Feb. 8. The death sentence was demanded at the first court-martial of leading republicans held at Barcelona, when Senor Edouardo Barriobero, aged 63, Anarchist lawyer and former Attor-ney-General, who organised the people’s tribunals to try enemies of the republic, was accused of sending scores of innocents to their death.