THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 29, 1937.
LAST STAND IN DURANGO Basques Admit Fall Of Town After Heavy Fighting
Conceding Ground
At Severe Cost To Attackers
Durango, To-day.
Although earlier insurgent claims of the cap- ture of Durango were somewhat premature, the Republicans have at last surrendered the town to the rebels.
AFTER HEROIC DEFENCE, MUCH OF WHICH CONSISTED OF RITTER STREET FIGHTING IN THE DOOMED TOWN, THE BASQUE TROOPS ABANDONED DURANGO AT 6 O'CLOCK YESTERDAY EVENING. AN OFFICIAL CLAIM STATES THAT ALL STORES WERE EVACUATED ACCORDING TO PLAN AND THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS.
ALTHOUGH THE INSURGENTS CONFIDENTLY CLAIMED TO HAVE CAPTURED THE TOWN TWO DAYS AGO, THERE WAS HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE STREETS OF DURANGO YESTERDAY MORNING.
Contrary to rebel claims, the Basque still had a footing in the
HOLD MOUNTAINS The Basques claim they still
Great Hope Incident: British Protest
Gibraltar, To-day.
The British naval authorities at Gibraltar have officially pro- tested to the insurgent authori- ties at Ceuta in regard to the stopping on the high seas by an insurgent armed trawler of the British steamer Great Hope.
The Great Hope was forced to return after leaving Gibraltar on Monday.-Reuter.
DATENSITALARIKAN BATERIINSÄTTA
Reinforcements
Or Surrender
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL”)
Paris, To-day. "Unless the Valencia Govern- ment sends reinforcements to the Bilbao front within twenty-four hours, the Basque province will be surrendered to General Mola."
SHARP GERMAN DENIAL
Ruthless Bombing Of
Guernica
Berlin, To-day.
The suggestions of German con- nection with the bombing of Guernica are sharply rejected in Berlin.
It was officially denied to Reuter's correspondent yesterday that any German or any German aeroplane participated in the bombing.
An official spokesman said "Everyone regrets the fate of the town. Germany was not concerned in this affair.”
Guernica, held by the Republicans, was laid waste with the loss of 100 planes, reported at the time to be Junkers machines.--Reuter.
lives, by insurgent
REBEL CHARGE
Salamanca, To-day. The reports of the wanton destruc- This message is alleged to have tion by air bombing of the town of been received by a Paris news Guernica have led to the issuing of agency last night from the town. a communique by insurgent head-
In addition to dwindling food quarters. supplies, repeated bombing raids The communique claims that the town and engaged the insurgents hold the mountains flanking Duran by insurgent planes are demoralis- town was not destroyed by air bom-
ing the populace.
bardment but by the Republican de- They assert that the insurgents The rebel aviators, says the re-fenders, who, it is alleged, set fire It is believed the Republicans raked the convent of Amorebieta
port, meet with no opposition in the to the entire city before they evacuat- inflicted considerable casualties with machine-gun fire from the air. skies, and air reinforcements are ed their positions.
The convent, which had been on the attackers, who consisted converted into a hospital,
an urgent requirement if the town, which has offered such a heroic of Carlist Militia and two bat-marked with a large red cross on defence to the advancing rebels, is talions of Moors.
the roof.
in a gallant delaying action.
It is stated that the Basque forces on the coastal sector have withdrawn without a fight and in perfect order to their second line of defence.
go to the south.
near
CLAIM FRONT BROKEN
was
to hold out.
flames."
TOWN VENERATED
This is denied by the Basque Pre- sident who, in an official statement. HEADLONG RETREAT ALLEGED in Bilbao yesterday, claimed that the In the meantime, an insurgent broadcast claims
À communique issued by rebel town had been destroyed by rebel that the rebels headquarters at Salamanca states (planes. have occupied the Calamonda that General Mola's troops have oc- "This historic town, venerated by heights, the village of Lequeitio, cupied Marquina, Basterreches, all Basques," he said, "is now in BASQUE DENIALS
the coast, the villages of Barrinaga, Echvarria, Arrezola and Guerita and Arbrecequi, în the the passes of Azarregui and Guer- The Basque Command
"In view of this challenge to our denies south, and the Montrono heights. ricaz in their rapid advance. that a single militiamen has been
national feelings, all Basques must They have thus completely The Basque militia, says the taken prisoner in the latest fighting, broken the Biscay and Guipuzcoa communique,
unite to defend their country," he are only offering added. or that any important war material fronts for more than
miles. spasmodic resistance here and has been lost.-Reuter.
there. Small parties' are putting up a stand with machine-guns, but was passing through a critical hour the main body of the Republicans but the enemy could never hope to is in headlong retreat. Trans-
achieve victory if the Basques were Ocean.
united.-Trans-Ocean.
EWOR
EWO
-Reuter.
62
No Poison Gas
London, To-day.
"No poisonous gas is being used
The Basque province, he continued,
CONTROL TO BE EXTENDED?
in the Spanish civil war," declared Suggestion For Canary
the Foreign. Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in the House of Commons yesterday.
EWOBEER
Reducing, Refreshing, Revitalizing. the three R's
of BEER DRINKING
Brewed by EWO BREWERY CO., SHANGHAI Managers: Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd.
Mr. Eden based his information
Islands
London, To-day. The chairman's sub-committee of
on letters received from the au- the international non-intervention thorities both in Valencia and Sala- committee resumed its meeting at manca, and added that prisoners on the Foreign Office yesterday and con- both sides were being treated gener-sidered "application of the observa- ously.-Trans-Ocean; ?
tion scheme to the Canary Is "The committee. agreed that
Castille Revolt
Valencia, To-day.
fore a decision was taka
there should be further study of the fin- ancial implications of the scheme Sanguinary fighting occurred yes for the Canary Islands in relation terday in the village of Santa Elina, to the funds available for the ob- in Castille, where the population reservation scheme as a whole. volted against the Republican Gov- It then passed to consideration of ernment.
the report of the committee of This is admitted in a Government jurists appointed to consider ques- broadcast from Valencia radio stations relating to the export from tion.
Spain of Spanish, capital assets to Troops were despatched to the countries which were parties to the spot by the provincial governor and non-intervention agreement. the revolt was quelled after much- Ibloodshed.—Trans-Ocean.
The discussion will be continued on Friday-British Wirėless. -