Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-05
MADRID SHAKEN
BY REBEL BOMBS
IN NEW ASSAULT
Artillery and Planes Shell
Capital as decisive Bat
tie" Is Launched.
TWO INSURGENT SHIPS
SHOT DOWN OVER CITY
Government Rushes Fresh Troops
as Suburban Residents Evac.
uate Danger Zone.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
With European capitals match
ing the significant struggle between
FasciSts and Communists for con-
troll OF government in Spain, in
Surgent forces pressed to the very
gates OF Madrid today in what ap-
pears to be deciSiue battle for pos
session of the final Loyalist strong
hold.
The rebellion tUds begun last July
by troops Uho opposed the extreme
regime OF the Socialist Communist
Asdnd and his coalition of Lettists.
The reUolterS Uere conservatives,
noiD called FdSciSts. They made
gains Immediately, and NTH the
tall of Madrid virtually oil of the
country iGiH be in their possession.
BY the Associated Press.
MADRID, November 5.-Heavy
aerial and artillery commandments
shook the outskirts of Madrid today
as Fascist insurgents started the de
cisive battle" for possession of the
Spanish capital.
Two insurgent fighting ships, which
chased off a government bombing
plane, we're shot down during a spec
tacular sky battle over the eastern
section of the city.
Thousands of Madrid residents,
watching the fight from rooftops,
shouted wildly at the Socialist victory
in the first air engagement over
Madrid
AS the Fascist combat planes dove
onto squadron of government
bombers, pilots in the Socialist ships
opened fire and one of the insurgent
craft burst into flames. A second in
surgent ship caught fire few seconds
later.
Both Fascist ships crashed to earth
in field north Of Vallecas, near the
hamlet of Cristo de Ribas.
Wall of Sirens Ceaseless.
For the third successive day the
wall of air raid sirens in the capital
was almost ceaseless. Punctuated by
the steady crash of artillery lombard
ments in suburban districts southwest
of the city. the clamor sent residents
scurrying to protection. Houses shook
with the reverberating roar.
One of the Fascist pilots escaped
from his plunging plane and landed
in a tree some distance from where
the ship fell. He was sent to hospi-
tai with a broken leg.
The second insurgent fighting ship
was reported to have burned with all
its crew aboard
Fascist artillery laid down barrage
on government field headquarters
few miles south of Cerro de Los
Angeles, famous landmark approxi-
mately 10 miles south Of the city.
SquadronS of government bombing
planes released a prolonged rain Of
high-explosive bombs ovar Alcorcon
County west of Madrid.
Fleets of insurgent fighting ships
dipped low over highways on the
capitals outskirts, machine-gunning
government reinforcementS on their
way to the front.
Ruins of Getafe Visible.
From the thirteenth floor of the
Madrid Telephone Building, the
smouldering ruins of Getafe, 8 miles
south of the city, could be seen. The
bursting of insurgent shells near Cara
banchel at 80 pm. today showed the
Fascist artillery almost within range
of the capital.
Scores of suburban residents were
being hastily evacuated from the
danger zone and brought to the center
of the city. Unoccupied houses and
Easements of large apartment houses
were converted into huge dormitories,
Many women with children in their
arms took shelter in subways.
Business houses in Madrid hastily
placed heavy Grapes over plate glass
(See SPAIN, Page Ash