Evening star., 1936-10-17
ARMS FOR MADRID.
H|NTED OFFICIALLY.
BY SOVIET PAPERS.
Shipment on Norwegian
Steamer Is Vigorously
Denied, However.
FASCISTS CONTINUING
ADVANCE ON CAPITAL
Ioyalists Retreat at Strategic
Points-Military Preparations
Pushed for Siege.
BACKGROUND

BACK kGROUND-
Cipil tpdr which has been raging
In Spain since last July 18 has
threatened peace of Europe because
issues involDed are Communism Us.
Fascism. In regard to purely in
fernal affairs OF Spain, issues do
not fall into so neat category,
but interest OF Soviet Russia on
: one side and Fascist Germany and
Italy on the other has dramatised
struggle. Russia has charged that
the other powers are aiding rebel
Fascist Socialists iDho are NON
nearing Madrid and final Uictory
and has demanded that such aid
be pithdrawn, threatening to go
into fight on side of retreattng
Communists OF Loyalist regime.
BY the Associated Press.
Soviet Russia disclaimed knowledge
Of a mysterious Spanish arms ship
ment today while the troops of Madrio
backed up "strategically" on the main
highway from the west and Fascist
the capital from three directions.
Despite the official Moscow disclaim-
or of information concerning the Nor
wegian steamer Bjoernoey, reported tc
have left a Russian Baltic port with
ammunition for Madrid, statements ir
the controlled Soviet press and work
ers' resolutions made it plain that
armed Soviet aid for Madrid may be
close at hand, if not already fact.
The Madrid high command. con-
soidated under the absolute power OF
Premier Francisco Largo Caballero
declared it had repulsed Fascist at
tacks directly west of the capital, al
though officers acknowledged their
main highway defenders had fallen
back toward Navalcarnero within 20
miles Of Madrid.
Loyalists Isolated.
This retreat augured i'll for isolated
government troops to the south, near
Toledo. The war ministry, however,
asserted these troops were holding the
Fascists In check.
The latest insurgent strategy sent
strong forces toward Madrid from the
region SO miles due north, from the
northeast and from the west.
A side expedition battered at Aran-
tlez, south of the capital.
On the western front the Fascists
were in possession of Valmojado, the
last town before Navalcarnero.
Largo Caballero, with newly
appointed war commiSsariat, mapped
fresh plans for defense of the capital
after a four-hour cabinet meeting de-
voted to discussion of the war situa-
ton.
Largo Caballero, who assumed per-
sonal direction of the war ministry, in
structed his commissars that all gen.
eral staff orders must be countersigned
by him.
Socialist police forces continued a
"purge" of Fascist sympathizers in
government-domi territory, ar
resting a number of alleged spies.
German Citizen Questioned.
Carl Friedrich Jeulich, a German
citizen, who was recently arrested in
q provincial town and charged with
espionage, was brought to Madrid for
further questioning.
Socialists closed the gates Of Madrid
TO war refugees streaming into the
capital.
Carlos Rubiera, civil governor Of
Madrid, declared the government had
ordered residents of towns in the
fighting zones not to leave home
unless they received permission from
military authorities.
nnrSx. Hits EASNIST HELP