The Washington times., 1936-07-27
BY H. r. KNICKERBOCKER
Copyright, 1895, by International
News SerViCe)

News Service)
WITH THE NORTHERN SPAN
ISH INSURGENT ARMY AT THE
FRONT, EREzO DE ABAJO
(SOMO SIERRE), (By Courier to
the French Frontier), July q.
Bombs burst around us on the
rebel front today and clouds OF
red earth dinlmed the sky as
happy officers, grinning through
the dust Of battle cried:
eve have dislOdged the enemy
from their last stronghold on
the heights of Some Sierre, and
we've got the key to Madrid!"
Here at the front, as in many
wars, spirits are higher than they
are among the men at the rear,
for the leaders of the insurgent
army have received with profound
depression the report that Frances
radical government has rallied to
the aid of their Socialist colleagues
in Madrid, and that a Shipload
of airplanes and munitions is now
en- route to the Madrid forces
from Marseille.
FaciSt Salute Is Pass
We reached here after three
hours driving from BurgoS. We
made it through all patrols and
through SWarmS of troops, irregu-
lars, and shouting citizens, by rails
ing our hands in the Fascist salute
and yelling "Viva Espana!"
Half way to the front, we passed
a column of so motor BUSES
camouflaged with branches Of
trees. These had rushed troops
forward fast enough to get foot
hold on the heights Of Somo
Sierra.
A steady stream Of automobiles
passed US coming from the front,
many of them laden with
wounded.
Soon we overlook a series Ct
trucks bearing three-inch artillery
pieces which after five days OF
fighting had finally Shelled the
Marxists from the pass OF Some
Sierra, 5,400 feet high.
Pulling up in Erezo de Abajo, we
met the victorious inSurgent CON-
mander, Col. Garcia EScamez, with
his staff. The officers surrounded
us asking for news from the
rear. Many officers are wearing
blue overalls with their insignia Of
rank pinned on their collars. !
counted two dukes and three mar.
quiSes in overallS.
The Madrid Road Open
One such overalled major told
us:
1--WE took what we wanted and
blew them out of their holes, and
now we've got straight road
to Madrid.
1--WE could go on tomorrow If
we liked, but Wen probably wait
for the southern army from Sc
vile to enter the capital at the
same time as we do. There have
not been many casualties"
Overhead, airplaneS scared SC
high it was impossible to discern
whether they were insurgent Of
Madrid planes. But presently, zoe
yards away a great burst of earth
came up from the field and the
dull boom of high explosives TOLD
us they were enemy planes.
More and more it appears that
this civil war NAV he decided nv
air strength, and this explains the
depression at insurgent headquar.
tiers over the report that the
French are sending 20 bombing air.
planes and 10000 bombs, in addi.
ton to so light machine guns, 12,'
100000 cartridges, and eight can.
non to Madrid by way of MarseilleS
in ship said to be the Ciudad de
Tarragone. The ship, believed to
be heading for Valencia, was er.
roneously reported to have fallen
into the hands of insurgents.
Information at BurgoS has It
that among the bombs ordered by
Madrid from France are gas bombs.
The three correspondents, one
French, one British and myself,
the only ones in this sector, are
having gas masks sent in from
France.
Seek Nazi Aid
At the same time as Madrid is
attempting to import arms from
France. the insurgents are trying