Evening star., 1936-07-24
Fierce Fighting
Rages Near
Madrid.
STARVATION"
MOVE SEEN
Rebels, Loyalists
Die in Border
Battle.

BACKGROUND
A Lettist pictory in Spain last
February put radicals in control OF
the country. Last Ueek q rebellion
broke out in the army at Morocco.
Rebels Uere advocates OF return to
conservative government, Joined by
those toho desire return of mon
archy and by those y7io see Spdin's
only hope in tascism.
The revolt at Morocco was sue.
cesstul and the repolt spread to the
Spanish mainland ,0ith heaviest
fighting at San Sebastian and
Madrid. An unestimated number
OF persons haze been killed. Be-
cause OF widespread fighting and
lack OF communication no one
knows which side actually is ahead
at moment.
Copyright 1886. by the Associated Press.'
Col. Villanueva, Spanish Fascist
commander at Vera, estimated tonight
1000 were dead in the fighting at
San Sebastion.
The rebels pounded the town most
of the day with battery of three
"75s" from the hills to the south, and
Villanueva said he would continue the
attack 'if it takes all month"
He admitted what was left of San
Sebastian was in loyalist hands.
At the same time the colonel an
nounced Gen. Emilio Mola, directing
the insurgent attack from the north
of Madrid, had cut the capitals two
sources of water.
The rebels, he said, expect ter
rible suffering under the intense Sum-
mer heat of Madrid" would bring the
government to quick terms.
Fight Near Madrid.
Rebels fought Leftist government
forces only few miles from Madrid,
while the Fascist high command was
reported to be maneuvering to "starve
out" the capital city and other stra-
tegic points.
"Starve-out" tactics were contem-
plated also for San Sebastian and
Irun.
On a front a few miles northwest of
Madrid the government threw rein-
forcements into mountain pass,
called the Gateway to Madrid, in an
effort to stem the rebel advance.
The rebels themselves trundled re-
Inducements north to besiege Leftist
strongholds.
At Endarlaza, Northern Spain, 55
rebels and an undetermined number
of government militiamen were killed
in vicious battle.
Battle Near River.
The engagement was fought out
across the Bidassoa River at a point
where the stream is less than so feet
wide.
Three hundred soldiers and cara
bineros in the rebel column tried to
cross the river at the point where
loyalist forces had blown up the
bridge
They met merciless resistance and
were forced to retreat almost 4 miles
to a camp outside Vera, from where
they were attempting to march on
Irun.
From rebel headquarters in Vera,
Col. Villanueva admitted control of
what was left of San Sebastian was
in the hands of the Loyalist popular
front.
From Pamplona, Gen. Emilio Mola,
northern Fascist commander, sped
toward Madrid to take personal
charge of the troops battling south
ward. Truckloads of peasant volun-
teers streamed over the highways to
rebel-held Pamplona and to the San
Sebastian front.
In Madrid a call was issued for re-
Spanish Communists in San Sc
bastian threatened to kill 500 Spanish
aristocrats if the rebels did not stop
bombing the resort from the air.
Rebels Lose Place.
Renewing an attack blocked yes
terday by liberal artillery, infantry
and airplanes, the Fascist armies of
Gen. Francisco Franco, rebel leader,
fought for control of the Pass of
gateway to Madrid, but