Evening star., 1936-09-04

dash across the Irun bridge, some of
them with women and children, 9TH
ers herding cows. They ran in a
shower of rebel bullets directed at the
defenders Of the Spanish bridgehead.
French gendarmes rushed out, picked
up the children in their arms and
hurried them to the French side.
One white-haired man, with silk hat,
tailcoat and dangling monocle. came
across. He refused to give his name.
House Seen Being Fired.
From Hendaye this correspondent
could see men on the roofs of houses,
chopping holes and starting fires.
Government militiamen, who sought
refuge in France, planned to leave by
special trains for Barcelona to resume
fighting against Fascist rebels on other
fronts.
More than 1000 Of the soldiers who
fled from the battle raging in Irun and
Behobia, Spain. were in the band.
French officials made no move to
prevent them from leaving. All of the
soldiers had been disarmed when they
crossed the border.
The recaptured bridgehead was that
on the span between Irun and Hem
daye. Rebels still were holding the
other Franco-Spanish bridge, between
Behobia -(Spain) and Behobie
(France). E
Government counter attackers seized
the bridgehead shortly before l pm.
| after scores of their comrades had
been shot down as defenders or pris-
oners in the blood-spattered streets
of Irun.
1t appeared, however. they could
not long hold their positions, for su-
perior forces of rebels Immediately
renewed the attack.
In the early morning the monks at
Fuenterrabia Monastery had been shot
by the defenders of Irun. Their bodies,
clothed in white robes, could be seen
lying on the roof of the monastery
from vantage points in Hendaye.
Advance forces of the rebels pressed
relentlessly on San Sebastian, only
miles to the west of Irun.
Government gunboat No. 3, which
had shelled the rebel positions from
the river, ran aground on a sand bank
while attempting to escape.
It was deserted by its crew.
Hostages Reported Shot.
Among the hostages reported shot
by the retreating Irun militiamen were
the Bishop of valladolid, Victor
Parada, leader Of the Spanish Tradi-
tionalist party. and Honorio Maura,
Monarchist Deputy.
Some panic-stricken militiamen
waded the Bidassoa at low tide and
reached Hendaye.
AS the flames swept through Irun,
violent explosions could be heard. The
cries of the wounded sounded behind
the billows of smoke.
Traffic on the international bridge
was cut. Rebel reinforcements were
rushed to the Spanish bridgehead to
relieve insurgent foreign legionnaires
fighting there. The reinforcements
came marching up under the red and
gold flag of the rebellion.
Few at Fort Guadalupe.
A handful of Loyalists remained at
their posts in Fort Guadalupe, the
coastal defense of Irun, despite the
fall of the city.
Rebels massed for an attack against
the stronghold which days before had
been the target for rebel warships.
The tragic exodus of Spanish ref
ugees across the international bridge
was reminiscent of experiences in
some sections of France during Au-
gust. 1914, at the outbreak Of the
World War.
Walking and riding and wading and
swimming, they came from Irun, Fuen-
terrabia and Behobia, weeping over
the loss Of their homes and possessions.
In the streets about the railroad sta
tions in Hendaye destitute families
huddled, waiting to be joined by their
men, who had abandoned the fight.
Most of the refugees will be sent
farther into France, to be distributed
among the quiet provinces far away
from the scene of the strife.
Militiamen, still wearing the blue
overalls in which they had fought for
days, fed the battle crying. I'VE can't
defend ourselves any longer"
Numerous private automobiles