CIVIL WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 7

CIVIL WAR

BOMBING ACTIVITY BY ITALIAN PLANES BRITISH SHIPS HIT (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) VALENCIA, February 9. Twenty-three Italian bombers were active on the Levant coast throughout the day. A hundred bombs were dropped on the outskirts of Valencia and 80 in Valencia port. Th 6 British ships Stanforth and Stanbrook were seriously damaged. One hundred bombs were dropped on Cartagena and did enormous damage. MIAJA’S RESOLUTION REPUBLICAN RETREAT ARMY CROSSES FRONTIER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 11. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10 A message from Spain states that General Miaja had a conference with the military leaders and again expressed his determination to fight for liberty and independence.. The British United Press correspondent at Barcelona says that Dr. Ne-grin, Senor del Vayo and other Cabinet members have arrived at Valencia. The Nationalists have occupied Portbou and reached the frontier, and also occupied Puigcerda. Rebel kirmen bombed Cartagena, Alicante, Alcoy, and other towns. General Franco has withdrawn some of his trops from Catalonia for a rest, preparatory to advancing towards central Spain. A message from Cerbere says the Republicans blew up Portbou in order to cover their retreat. The last army of 3000 men crossed the frontier. PITIABLE PLIGHT SCENES IN REFUGEES’ CAMP (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright; LONDON, Feb. 9 Scenes at the frontier refugee camps present a spectacle of misery. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are spread over the huge sand dune area behind barbed-wire, which is patrolled by Senegalese and Mobile Guards. Here and there children are hobbling on improvised crutches. Old men and many wounded arc huddled about camp fires in the bitter cold, while others scour the countryside in search of firewood. TO END THE WAR REPUBLICAN TERMS ARMY’S LAST STAND (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 9 Gathering for the last time on Catalonian soil, the skeleton Republican Cabinet met in a tiny house in ’Leperthus early this morning, after which Senor del Vayo, Foreign Minister, announced the conditions under which they would make peace. He declared that the Government was willing to halt the war provided the safety of all was assured, that foreigners would leave Spain immediately, and that Spaniards would he allowed to choose their own form of Government by means of a plebiscite. General Rojo, in order to hold up the rebels to allow the meeting to be held, threw the last two corps of the Ebro Army across the Leperthus Road, south from La Junquera. It was the last stand of the eastern army, which is now retreating to France. The French Minister of Marine, Viscount Louis de Chappedelaine, ordered the recommissioning of four passenger steamers for use as hospital ships for Spanish refugees. Two will be despatched from Port Vendres and two from Marseilles, to which wounded will be taken by train. A Perpignan message says the position in the Madrid zone is obscure. Although General Miaja is reported to have declared his determination to continue resistance, a message from Paris states that he applied for a French passport and safe conduct, indicating that the central zone is preparing to capitulate. The Daily Mail says this morning that it is reliably stated General Miaja has decided to abandon resistance, and that a warship will be placed at his disposal at any moment. LE PERTHUS CAPTURED SCENES ON FRONTIER HEAVY SHELLING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) PERPIGNAN, February 9 Le Perthus was captured without opposition a few minutes after the last of the retreating Spaniards ran across the international road, which the French requested the insurgents not to cross. The insurgents thereupon marched up and down the Spanish side of the road playing a band. Desperate fighting continued till nightfall, the insurgents pushing on toward Puigcerda. Thousands in France watched the retreating Republicans who were heavily shelled.