Evening star., 1936-07-23

dBlccu W lulllll tllc OIdIC OCPult
ment's request to divert one of its
vessels to Barcelona to evacuate
Americans if necessary.
BY ne Associated Press.
An urgent appeal for the evacua-
ton by a war vessel of American
women and children at Bilboa, Spain,
was transmitted to the State Depart
ment today by Consul William E.
Chapman at that place.
Meanwhile. Secretary Hull an
nounced that the American Export
Line had agreed to fulfill the State
Departments request to divert one OF
its vessels to Barcelona to evacuate
Americans If necessary.
The number of Americans known to
be in Bilboa prior to the outbreak OF
the Spanish revolution was placed by
the State Department at l55.
At about the same time the appeal
for assistance was received the Navy
reported that the battleship Oklahoma,
departing from Cherbourg, France, 10
hours earlier than originally antici-
pated, would arrive at Bilboa at about
midnight Friday (E. S. T).
State of Siege Reported.
Reporting that Bilboa, a northern
Spanish seaport. was virtually in a
state of siege, Chapman said in mes
sage filed at 10 am. today (Spanish
time) that "a food shortage is very
likely to bring about looting, since the
authorities are not in a position to
prevent it."
Chapman's message did not make
clear whether Bilboa was in the hands
of the Leftist government forces or the
Rightist rebels.
After receiving word that an I'M
identified American woman in the
civil war area had been wounded. the
government. here anxiously awaited
an answer to its request that the
American Export Line send its steam
ship Exeter, now in European waters,
to Barcelona to take of United States
citizens.
Tension was heightened by a dis
patch from the American consul at
Gibraltar, saying the British war YES
sci Shamrock was en- route to Seville
in response to a request for protection
by the British consul at that place.
Hopes to Exchange Messages.
Consul Herbert o. Williams at
Gibraltar said he had endeavored,
without success, to induce the driver
of hired car to go to Seville, but that
he hoped to exchange wireless mes
sages with American Consul Charles
A. Bay at Seville tonight. His mes
sage was transmitted at / pm. (Span-
ish time) today.
Reporting the government of NAL
aga remained in the hands of Com
munists and other radical groups,
American Consul George M. Graves
said that American lives and property
at that place had not been harmed,
but that tension and uncertainty pre-
vailed. Americans at Malaga are
thought to number 70.
Vice Consul Frank Cussans at
Bordeaux, France, who is at the
Franco-Spanish border, reported to-
day that communication still was i'm
possible with San Sebastian, Spain,
where Ambassador Claude G. Bowers
is in residence at his Summer en-
bassy.
Cussans' message said no one had
been able to penetrate more than a
few kilometers beyond the border in
the direction of San Sebastion, where
gun and cannon fire were heard on
the night of July %.
No Refugees Enter France.
He said no American refugees had
entered France, so far as could be
learned, on July % or the morning
of July %.
He reported a belief at the border
that Gen. Molas rebel forces were
striking south toward Madrid and
were said to have reached Soria.
The number of Americans known
to be in Barcelona prior to the revo-
lutions outbreak has been placed by
the State Department at $50. The
American colony in Madrid num-
bered 466.
The Exeter was due in Marseilles,
France, today. Whether the arrange
ments to have her diverted from her
course to call Immediately at Bar
celona could be completed was not
yet determined.
Barcel0na'S Peril Pictured.
Diplomatic dispatches to Washing
ton pictured Barcelona as one of the
most perilous spots on the whole
Spanish peninsula. Consul Lynn W.
Franklin, in a report received yes
terday, said that great numbers OF
armed Socialists and Communists
were pursuing Fascists throughout the
city, to the accompaniment Of con-
siderable firing.
Franklin advised all Americans
there, numbering several hundred,
to remain indoors. He appealed to
officials to guarantee the safety Of
Americans, but was informed that
{See U. S. SHIPS, Page ~