1939-01-26 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 26, 1989.

FRANCO DELAYS ATTACK ON

ON KOWLOON

EXPERIENCES BARCELONA REAL BLACK-OUT

Barcelona, To-day.

ex-

A large part of Kowloon perienced the most effective black-` approximately 35 minutes last |night, though it had nothing to do

with A.R.P.

In spite of almost continuous air raids, obviously for the purpose of des-out within its experience for

troying civilian morale and leading to quick surrender of the city, the population of Barcelona are displaying a stoical courage. There is a complete absence of panic, though it is quite obvious by now to all in the city that the days of the Catalan capital are numbered.

Factory equipment has been dismantled hurriedly

and is now being transported along the north road out of Barcelona. It is hoped to re-estab- lish Barcelona's industries elsewhere.

The north road is packed with cars and lorries, which are repeatedly bombed and machine- gunned by Nationalist planes. Trans-Ocean.

SOLSONA'S FALL CLAIMED

Reuter and

St. Jean de Luz, To-day.

The Republican troops in the Pyrenees in the neigh- bourhood of Seodeurgel have been completely isolated as a result of the Nationalist capture of Solsona, according to Nationalist reports re- ceived here.

-FRANCE'S

DEFENCE COUNCIL

Paris, To-day.

The Premier, M. Edouard Daladier, yesterday presided at a meeting of the per- manent committee of national defence.

Attending the meeting were the Ministers of Navy and Air, and the Chiefs of Staff of the defence forces. Reuter.

Ministry of National Defence:

"Fighting on the Catalan front characteristics exhibited the same

The reports claim that this assures an ultimate col-

lapse of the Catalonian front in the Pyrenees. General Yague's Moroccan troops have now halted on the heights of Fort Montjuich on the outskirts of Barcelona, awaiting the arrival of Navarrese troops who are moving down from Manresa along the River Llobregat via Tar-in improving his positions. Dur-

rasa.

as during the past days. The Re-

publicans resist all attacks. Under severe losses, the enemy succeeded

.

The whole of Nathan Road from Jordan Road to Prince Edward Road was affected, and Waterloo Ho- Road, Prince Edward Road, muntin and, it is understood, Kow- loon Tong, were also involved.

The Majestic and Alhambra Thea- tre were compelled to suspend their Brogrammes during the blackout, which was due to an electrical fai- lure.

The lights went out at about 9:05 p.m. and were restored at about 9.40 p.m.

y

No explanation is forthcoming. Mr. D. W. Munton, manager of the China Light and Power Company, said he was unable to make- statement.

any

FRANCO BOMBER CRASHES IN SNOWSTORM

Paris, To-day.

One of Franco's bombers, during

ing an air raid on the Estremadura front, one plane was shot down a snowstorm yesterday morning, and the pilot who was

an crashed on French territory near con-Italian was captured after he had

Arrens in the Pyrenees. ar-landed by parachute."

Ocean.

The city is being General Franco is pursuing the frontier. same tactics as he followed at stantly shelled by Nationalist Bilbao, namely, awaiting general tillery and the drone of aeroplane encirclement of the city before motors. is broken by bursting bombs taking it, thus avoiding street and the whine of shells. fighting.

Reuter.

The Government censorship de- partment left yesterday together with all foreign journalists who have been "covering" the defence of Barcelona.

All roads from the city which are not under fire are clogged with re- fugees, military columns and tran- sports.

Trans-

INCESSANT · CANNONADE

London, To-day.

The crew of two officers and three men were all killed.

Three of them had attempted to land by parachutes which failed

8 Was

German

Trans-

The forces of General Franco to open in the storm. are getting nearer to Barcelona, The machine GOLD RESERVES TAKEN OUT and messages from there speak of three-engined Heinkel plane, armed

Armed cars bearing the gold re-an incessant cannonade and of re- with two machine-guns. The city is without light and serves from the banks of Barcelona peated air-raid alarms, although Ocean.. food is low, but the people are passed at high speed along the high-no bombs appeared to have been resigned to the future. Owing to way to Gerona. All shops are clos- dropped yesterday. lack of transport, virtually the ed. Despite the intense excitement entire population is remaining in prevailing, the streets are practical- The British Consul-General, who remains in Barcelona, is reported the city, and their attitude is ly empty as the population that of making the best of a bad sought refuge in bombproof cellars. to have. informed British subjects Newspapers have ceased publica- who have not "avalled themselves job.

tion and the only source of news of the opportunities of evacuation ls the radio which continues ex-that they are welcome to take re- allow fuge in the Consulate if the situa- hortations to resist and to

over tion deteriorates. enemy to advance only dead bodies.-Tràns-Ocean.

CITY DEFENCE

The Republican defenders, who are busily throwing up barri-the cades, digging trenches and so on in the city, are short of equip- ment and ammunition. ⠀

:

has re

GAS AND POWER CUT

· Perpignan, To day.

CALM PREVAILS

Mr. Ralph Stevenson, the British Minister, and the rest of the Bri-

FROM

"LAST TRAIN

BARCELONA"

Perpignan, Tó-day.

The last train from : Barcelona 'yesterday reached the French frontier carrying over 200 women and children, who had enten noth- ing for two days.

*

Another train tried to leave Barcelona in the morning, but the line was so heavily bombed that it had to return.

While the refugee train

four Italian

on

over.

Was

Bavola planes flow

The anti-aircraft defence of the city, which previously had kept raiding planes at a height, Supplies of gas and electric curtish Embassy staff, embarked on is now not so effective, as many rent have ceased in various parts the cruiser Devonshire yesterday of the guns have been with of Barcelona, according to re- afternoon and the cruiser proceed-waiting at the frontier station, drawn.

fugees arriving here yesterday ed to Port Vendres, where it will H.M.S. Greyhound, which was from the Catalan capital.

remain with Mr. Stevenson. taking British evacuees to France, The roads from Barcelona to the board until further notice. was nearly bombed in the har-French frontier are reported to be bour, on which Nationalist planes blocked by the incessant stream of Meanwhile the destroyer Grey- motorcars as well as all imagin-hound, which evacuated other mem have been concentrating.

"able kinds of vehicles..

bers of the Embassy staff to Mar- The railway_service has been selles on Tuesday, is returning to suspended. * Trans-Ocean.

Barcelona where, according to a BARCELONA BULLETIN

press message reaching London Barcelona, To-day. last evening; general calm pre- Valls in spite of tho; serious-situas

REFUGEE, STORIES

Perpignan, To-day,

Conditions prevailing in Barce-

lona are dramatically described. by The following short bulletin was refugees arriving at the French issued yesterday by the Republican tion.-British Wireless.

The refugees whose nerves were chattered after days of starvation. and strain, fled for shelter in the darkened subway,<-

...

Nationalist aircraft'are very ac tive, flying over all-roade and rail- ways and bombing and machine- gunning the congested traffic.

Trawlers with fleeing militiamen are reported to be arriving at dif- ferent pointa on the French coast. They are, boity disarmed by the gendarmerie.- Beuter.