The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-10-21
(Knickerbocker Diary on Page 1O)

(KnickerbOcker Diary on Page 1O)
By THOMAS A. LOAYZA
MADRID, Oct. 81 U.N.SO.
Heavy siege guns Of Gen. Fran
cisco Frances insurgents today
were rolled within range Of
Madrid, while the loyaliStS, mass
ing 100000 militiamen in a gen.
eral call to arms, battled furious
ly in what may be their last
counter-offensive to save the
capital. A war ministry COM
munique said:
1--WE have launched . cOun-
ter-attack in the TaguS sector
south Of Madrid. The insurgents
are retreating with heavy
losses.
"A surprise attack on RObledO
(near Navalperal, northwest OF
Madrid) was successful, and rs
rebels were killed"
DISPUTED BY INSURGENTS
Not only is the government
communique a complete fabrica-
ton. according to the insurgent
radio station at Seville, but the
counter-offensive at IllescaS was
repulsed and the loyalists driven
back nine miles to Getafe -
bringing the insurrecto vanguard
to within 10 miles of the capital
their closest approach OF the
war. 80
Insurgents said more than 800
IoyaliSts were killed in the battle
of Illescas, and MoorS and For
eign Legionnaires are now being
formed backed by a constantly
inflowing supply of reinforce
ments, for the assault on Getafe.
An insurgent offensive with Ma
valcarnero, west Of Madrid, as its
objective Is also under way.
POpuIace Deluded
All Madrid was in a frenzy Of
defensive patriotism today, un-
aware of the true status Of affairs
on the fronts. and, according to
reports from Valladolid, the gov
eminent has ordered to be shot
any soldiers returning from the
front with stories of loyalist re-
verses.
Hundreds Of parades and demon
STATIONS are being held in the
capital, with columns Of women
streaming through the streets
crying:
"Men, to the front! Women
form the rear guard"
All labor organizations and left
list parties have backed up the
official call to arms.
Alvarez del Vayo, the foreign
minister, has been appointed gen
eral war commiSSar," and in his
first manifesto today called upon
every man and woman In Ma
drid" to make supreme effort for
the capitals defense"
Labor COmmiSsars at Front
Del Vayo also announced a dual
responsibility for the conduct Of
military affairs He explained:
ITO insure victory have been
charged with formation Of an
institute of political cOmmisSarS.
In addition to the regular army
officers, the militia will be led
by political c0mmissars, ap-
pointed by labor party OrganiZa-
TONS"
Severe punishment. probably
death, it was limited, would be the
lot of any commiSsar failing to en-
force discipline at the front.
The measure is one of the most
stern taken in the war to whip the
enthusiastic, but badly organized
militia, into strong fighting unit
and to maintain morale In the face
Of defeat.
The Socialist General Labor
Union has designated 900 such
commissars, and the Syndicalist
Federation of Labor is expected to
name an even larger number.
BY H. r. KNICKERBOCKER
Copyright, 1885, by International
News Service)
WITH THE SPANISH FOR
EIGN LEGION AT CHAPINERIA,
Oct. 21.-Just IS miles from the
Madrid radio station we stood to-
day at the white army's most ad-
vanced artillery post here with
Lieut.. Col. Antonio Castejon and
saw for the first time from the
southern front the four wireless
mastS in the capital.
! They rose before us as a tangible
objective within grasping distance,
and as Castejon's batteries on his
orders shelled the reds command
post into smithereens before our
eyes, the outcome of this most Bit
ter civil war in history seemed
completely settled.