The Bismarck tribune., 1934-10-09
LERR0UX LAUNCHES
DRIVE TO MOP UP
BLOODY. REBELLION
Authorities Close French From.
tier; Foreigners Not Allow.
ed Over Border
AMERICANS m WAR ZONE
Death Toll Still Uncertain But
Conservatory Estimated
at Over 1000
AMERICANS IN WAR ZONE


Copyright, 1884, ~ the A. P.)
Madrid, Oct. 0-The government Of
Premier Alexandra Lerroux Tuesday
began mopping up the remaining
vestiges Of rebellion In several prov
inces while estimates Of the dead In
the six days extremists outbursts
ranged from 500 to 1000.
General Ochoa concentrated the
government army on the outlying re-
gions Of Asturias where fighting still
went on. Fragmentary reports to the
capital Tuesday said he had occupied
Oviedo this morning, going there from
Aviles.
Congress Reopens
Attention here was centered on the
reopening Of congress Tuesday after
noon, the presentation Of the budget,
and the appearance Of the chamber
with all the deputies Of the left op-
position In jail, In hiding, or repu-
dating participation IN the rebel
lion. - : ~ ~
Leftists were spreading reports that
they might make an attempt against
congress, using this as IN excuse for
. last stand In, the revolutionary
movement.
The government took elaborate pre-
cautions, searching the parliament
buildings and stationing soldiers and
guards at its approaches to examine
every person entering the area.
Rebel bulwarks crumbled one by
one Tuesday under the relentless
pounding Of guns Of the Spanish gov
eminent.
Most clashes were marked by the
feeble resistance Of rebels against
regular troops.
Northern Spain. however. was COM
pletely shut off from Madrid as fierce
fighting broke out early Tuesday
morning and continued into the fore
noon.
Authorities closed the French from
tier and even foreigners were not al
lowed to cross the border.
Telephone communication with
Madrid was broken and lines to Paris
were expected to be cut soon.
Fighting Along Coast
9ktrmishes between strikers and
soldiers were frequent all along the
coast from 6antander to Hendaye. At
Bilbao shooting continued all night.
Soldiers mounted huge searchlights
atop the Carlton hotel In IN attempt
to locate the strikers position after
they had poured volleys into the
town.
Twenty Americans. employees Of the
Firestone Tire 4 Rubber Co., were
marooned at Basauri in the center
Of the troubled area In northwest
ern Spain.
Fighting WAS especially severe In
the town Of La Sarenes, close to Bill
bao. as leftists carried their deter
mined revolt against the rightist gov
ernment into its fifth day.
Leaders Of the newly formed right
1T cabinet, confident the leftist re-
bellion Is Ill but crushed. were to 60
before congress Tuesday. There were
indications the republic might be
placed under . military dictatorship.
Reports gathered by the Associated
Press and official sources showed tie
principal revolutionary strongholds
In the Asturias. Oviedo and Gijon.
- well q many other centers were
taken after short air, land and sea
attacks.
Troops Surround Trouble Area
A circle Of steel was gradually clos
ing about the Mieres mining region,
in Asturias, the last stand Of the In
surgents In northwest Spain.
The death toll In the fighting
which broke out last Friday remained
uncertain because It cannot be re-
liably estimated in Asturias. There
are virtually no communications from
the region and fatalities may range
from few hundred to . thousand or
more. InsurTectionists there were
well armed with everything from pis-
tolls to field artillery.
Unofficial estimates Of the dead In
other regions:
Madrid and vicinity-about 100.
Catalonia-about $50.
Remaining provinces: approximate
" $50.
Thus casualties in Asturias may
send the death list above 1000.
Extremists continued their guerilla
warfare In Madrid, with snipers
drawing government fire. At no
time, however, have the leftists
threatened to gain military control
OF the city.
Congress Takes Action
Measures to restore peace were to
be taken BY congress. None Of the
Socialist minority viii be present, for
they are either in jail or IN hiding.
A prominent deputy told the Asso-
ciateq Press this uncertainty, Il It
CONTINUED o. Page q