Evening star., 1936-08-19
Retain
Irun, Aided
by Vessel.
3.INCH SHELLS
BLOCK ADVANCE
Hand-to-Hand Fighting
Brings Attackers to
Edge of City.
tcopyright. 1888. by the Associated Press,

IRUN. Spain. August 19.-Spanish
rebel troops, advancing within rifle
shot of this government-held city, on
the Bay of Biscay, were halted today
by 3-inch shells from a government
torpedo boat and by loyalist machine
guns.
Bullets richocheted off the walls and
buildings of Irun itself during hand
to-hand fighting just outside the city,
and for several hours during the morn
ing the defenders feared that the
streets of the city would be turned into
a battle-ground.
The situation for Irun was des-
perate for the first time during the
long. bitter siege The guns of Fort
Guadalupe were silent, indicating they
had been put out of comission by sea
bombardments of the past two days.
Loose Heavy Gunfire.
From the international bridge at
Hendaye one could see with field
glasses the intrenched insurgents as
they loosed heavy gunfire.
Citizens of Hendaye were fearful
that ammunition stores of Fort Qua
dalupe might be blown up by the 10y
alists should capture of the fort ap-
pear imminent. Such an explosion
would menace the French city.
Bombardment by the rebel warships
yesterday did not set of the munition
store. it was believed, because they
were cached deep underground
The insurgents started an encircling
movement during the night and swung
to the right of Behobia, apparently
hoping to launch surprise attack on
the Irun defenders.
Fascist heavy artillery was set up
on a mountain east of the besieged
city, but Loyalists insisted they were
prepared to repulse the attack in that
sector.
Mines Ready to Fire.
Mines were placed at eastern ap-
proaches. ready to to be set OF at
the desired moment"
I'VE are determined to fight to the
end" the defenders said.
Frightened women and children
crowded to the border, ready to enter
France If the situation became crit
ical.
Reports circulated here that the
rebel ship Almirante Cervera, which
bombarded the Bay of Biscay sector
yesterday, was hit by shells from
Guadalupe.
Perhaps fatally stricken with a
gaping hole at the water line, the
pirate ship took to her heels under
full stream" the newspaper Frente
Popular said.
1T is a proper end for the ship
which has been terrorizing unpro-
tected residents in the exposed cities"
Of San Sebastian and Irun.
Typhoid Reports Heard.
Reports of typhoid epidemic in
San Sebastian also were heard here,
but they were generally discounted.
Possibility of such an epidemic was
acknowledged, however, in view of the
poor quality of water available to
residents.
The Rebel junta, claiming posses
sion of two-thirds of Spain, charged
that Loyalists troops had used poison
gas bombs in battles against their
Fascist countrymen.
I'VE also have gas" Gen. Emilio
Mola asserted, "but we never for q
second have contemplated using it
against Spaniards."
"a Madrid radio broadcast, received
at Lisbon, Portugal, announced the
Loyalist government would continue
gas bombardment. The broadcast said
poison gas would be used in attacks
on native Moroccan troops and tear
gas against Spanish rebels.
paris dispatches from Madrid
quoted government leaders as saying
that thus far only tear gas bombs
had been used.
(From the southern rebel headquar-
ters at Seville Gen. De Llano asserted
in a broadcast that bombs manufac-
tured in England had been dropped
on rebels at Tonta.
l"They are on my desk and may
be seen by any one who wishes" the
general declared. He asserted his
troops were being opposed In other
ways by foreigners. The English Tele-
graph Co., he said, had cut of his
communications with the Canary
90 ~ W. noro oN