1939-02-10 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 10, 1939.

Page

BLOODLESS OCCUPATION MINORCA BY FRANCO

OF

Part Of Garrison Goes Over To Landing Party

Two Battalions Of Infantry Carry The Day

Burgos, To-day. It is announced here that Nationalist troops have landed at Ciudadela, on the west coast of Minorca, where they were joined by units of the local garrison which had risen against the Re- publican authorities.

DEVONSHIRE MONEYLENDER'S LEAVES WITH STORY IN

450 REFUGEES

"London, To-day.

MARCAL CASE

The case in which Fausto Leo- The British cruiser H.M.S. nard Marcal is charged with re- Minorca yesterday with 450 re- same to have been stolen or unlaw | Devonshire' (9,750 tons) left ceiving four boxes of silk knowing

fugees on board.

fully obtained from the Britannia Devonshire, it was revealed here Silk Store, was continued this yesterday, conveyed to Minorca the morning before Mr. R. Edwards at Nationalist military commander of the 'Central Magistracy. Majorca, Colonel San Luis. VY

The British Government's role

FORCES DISBANDING

The troops landed consisted of two battalions of in-alist authorities.

fantry and one battery of artillery with auxiliaries.

This morning, Gurbux Singh, a

Most of the Republican leaders are stated to have

fled from the island, which it is claimed is al-official circles here, was confined on January 12 he saw an advertis- in the matter, it was explained by registered moneylender, said that most entirely in Nationalist hands.

to providing transport for Col. San ment seeking a loan and applied Luis at the request of the Nation-asking for particulara. Next day, about noon, he received a call from Marcal and at 6 p.m. the same even- It is not known whether Col. Saning, saw Marcal in his office. Mar- Luis left Minorca on board the cal told him that he wanted a loan Devonshire.

of $3,000 and when asked what se- The refugees on board the curity he could offer, showed some seilles, and the French Government market price was $8 a yard. cruiser will be landed at Mar- samples of silk saying that the have agreed to admit them.

Following, enquiries, witness told According to press from Burgos,

messages Marcal that he was willing to grant claim that the Republican forces"

the Nationalists a loan based on $5 per yard, which was at first refused but later in Minorca are disbanding. Reu-agreed. The goods, measured totall- ter and British Wireless.

ed 351 yards. Marcal was offered $1,755.0

A Nationalist division has left Barcelona for Minorca to reinforce hope in restoration of the monarchy, Britain, for its part, is reposing the troops already there.

while Germany and Italy are back- ing the Phalangists. General

Writing on the Nationalists' claim that they now dominate al- most the whole of Minorca, Reu- ter's diplomatic correspondent in London points out that France has been particularly concerned about the future of the island, 28 OC- cupation by a hostile power would seriously threaten communications with French North African posses- ziona.

WHOLLY SPANISH

Both France and Britain have been seeking to ensure that any eventual occupation would be wholly a Spanish one.

This was one of the aims of the British Government in authorising the cruiser. H.M.S. Devonshire to convey General Franco's envoy to negotiate for the island's peaceful surrender. Reuter.

MIAJA NOT YET READY TO TALK PEACE

London, To-day. General Miaja, Commander in Chief of the Republican forces in the Madrid urea, declared în an in- terview to the special correspondent of the "Daily Express" that he has no intention of breaking away from the der to talk peace.

Franco is at heart royalist but may decline to support a restoration on grounds of personal prestige. Trans-Ocean.

LEON BLUM'S REVELATION

Paris, To-day. That the occupation of Minorca by French and British forces was contemplated by the two Govern- ments eighteen months ago, is re- vealed by M. Leon Blum, the French Socialist leader, in "Populaire."

MUNITIONS DEPOT DYNAMITED

Paris, To-day.

A promissary note for $1,965,50 was drawn up, Marcal 'told him he wanted the money only for 10 days. The rate of interest and duration of the loan were Marcal's terms.

Only late last night did reports

CERTIFICATE. GIVEN reach here announcing that "Anar-

In addition to the promissary Let us bear in mind the fact, he chists had dynamited the Republi-note, a certificate

from Marcal writes, that one and a half years can Munitions Depot at Puiccerda. stating that the goods were his, ago the plan of occupying Minorca

It is said that about 150 persons was required by the witness after to counterbalance the occupation of lost their lives and hundreds were he had been advised to obtain same Majorca by Italy was studied very seriously wounded. Numerous

by his brother.” carefully with a view to being able wounded, with emergency bandages, later on to guarantee evacuation of have been transported over the An agreement was drawn up both islands. He concludes by de-frontier to Latour-de-Carol.-Trans-which was signed by defendant and imanding that Minorca be handed Ocean.

Mr. M. A. Silva. over to Anglo-French or an interna- tional force. The arrival of Nation- al Spanish troops on the island is tantamount he contends to Italian occupation.-Trans-Ocean.

NO INFORMATION

COURT CRITICISES COMPANY

The Standard Press, Limited,

Cross-examined, witness said that he knew. Marcal had an office in French Bank Buildings.. He was not shown any invoices nor ship- ment samples.

Marcal asked in what denomin- ations the money was paid to him. Witness sald in notes of $500 and

Republican Government in or concerning foreign press reports/applied for extension of time to smaller denominations.

:

file

Marcal said that he asked

the

San Sebastian, To-day. No information is forthcoming

that negotiations

a return of allotment of took place on We shall fight on, he is reported board the British cruiser, Devon-shares at the Supreme Court this question because he had paid the to have said, even if we are fated abire, between the Military Gov-morning before the Chief Justice, money just as received to another to be crushed. In the remaining Re-ernor of Majorca and representa Sir Atholl MacGregor.

man. He was arranging the loan on publican territory `are five well-tives of the Republican garrison of

Mr. Hin Shing-lo, instructed by his behalf for a 10 per cent, com- armed and trained armies, compris Minorca.

Mr. M. A. da Silva, appeared for mission and had been given a bad ing, in all, half a million troops. Violent clashes which

petitioner. occurred

cheque. Another half a million are held in between the garrison and a part of the civilian population would appear to have extended to the south as far as Port Mahon. Trans-Ocean. OCCUPATION NEARLY

reserve.

COMPLETE

FRANCO ASSURANCE

According to the diplomatic cor- respondent of the "Daily Telegraph”

Burgos, To-day. the French Government has receiv-

Nearly the whole of the island ed assurances from General Franco of Minorca is now in hands of the about the exclusion of foreign in-Nationalists according to an offi- fluence from National Spain at the cial announcement, which termination of the civil war. -

in

The Chief Justice granted the application and warned petitioning firm to heed - the advice of their Isolicitors in future.

His Lordship commented that it would not be unjust to say that a group of gentlemen had formed a company without fulfilling the ne- cessary statutory obligations.

states on board ships in harbour. |that Nationalist troops landed at|Trang-Ocean.

dawn

yesterday in Ciudadela NEGRIN AT PERPIGNAN Udadel, which is the largest port

Paris, To-day.

.

Mr. Vernon Bartlett writes the "News Chronicle" that the tug- of-war between Germany and Italy on the west coast of the island. Dr. Negrin, Republican Spanish on the one side and France and Bri- Republican forces abandoned the Prime Minister, is staying at Per tain on the other, for "possession port of Mahon.

pignan, according to reports reach ing here. His plans are not

of the soul" of General Franco is Republican detachments station- now on the point of being decided.ed at Port Mahon, Hought

FRANCO-SPANISH RAILWAYS

Paris, To-day.

A member of the Council of Ad- ministration of the French Na- tional' railways, M. Eycole, has ar- rived in Hendaye. He will at once continue his' journey to Spain where, it is stated in well-informed French circles, he will confer with the Spanish authorities about the re- sumption, of the railway service be-

Band Bpain via Irun-