The Washington times., 1936-09-07
CHECK FRANCO
IN ADVANCE
0NMADRID
Government Throws
Heaviest Forces to
Toledo Front
CONTINUED from Page II

the capital received the proclama-
ton calmly.
At the same time the new gov
eminent launched the most SER
ious effort so far made to stamp
out terrorism in Madrid.
An investigation committee"
backed by all radical parties and
labor organizations issued q proc
lamation that no person may be
taken from a house and shot un-
less such action is ordered jointly
by Madrid police headquarters
and the committee.
Air Raid Fails
The proclamation asked the
Madrid population to cooperate
theoretically Ito prevent these
crimes" It followed the death OF
a committee member, Manuel
Lopez.
An official announcement stated
an insurgent air raid on Madrid
was attempted at 1:40 a. m. today
but failed because loyalist planes
outnumbered and drove them off.
No bombs were dropped on the
capital.
One American citizen, however,
was injured as an indirect result
of the attempted air attack. Mrs.
Navarro, an American refugee at
the United States Embassy, dis
located her ankle when she fell
downstairs while descending to
the basement.
Fighting with the fury Of des-
peration, the government forces
had succeeded in meeting the de-
mands Of the new socialist pre-
mier, Francisco Largo Caballero,
by turning back the insurgents
vanguard for Is miles, and the
battle now raging before Talavera
may be, according to Caballero,
the decisive clash Of the civil war.
In the north two inSurgent
columns marching from charred
Lrun on the east and Andaoin on
the southwest were expected TO
take San Sebastian within q few
days. Insurgent broadcastS from
Seville asserted that the second
column had already severed 10y.
aliSt rail and Geographic commu-
nications with Bilbao.
Gunboat Shells Town
The attack on San Sebastian
was started with q heavy bonn
bardment from the insurgent gun
boat Espana, while in the famous
seaside resort itself Moderates and
Anarchists were reported nearing
a struggle among themselves, the
former urging prompt surrender
and the Anarchists demanding de-
struction of San Sebastian rather
than yield.
Gen. Jose Asneso, whom the
new Premier placed in command
of the defenders Of Madrid, told
this correspondent on o visit to
the Toledo Talavera front that the
Loyalist force there was sufficient
to hold off the insurgent thrust
toward Toledo.
Talavera de la Reina remains in
the hands Of the insurgents, how
ever, although the government
army pressed almost to Its out
skirts.
General FRANCOIS insurgent
spearhead reached Maqueda, only
Is miles west Of Toledo, but their
advance was too far beyond that
of the main body and they were
thrust back.
I succeeded in motoring as far
as Santa Olalla, 30 miles from
Talavera de Ia Reina, and watched
insurgent airplanes blasting the
road over which loyalist reinforce
mentS were being rushed up. Four
teen loyaliStS were killed by one
bomb.
Alcazar Capture Reported
Another insurgent airplane sue.
ceeded in flying over the Alcazar
in Toledo, where LOO rebels have
been besieged for more than a
month, and dropped packages OF
food. An altogether unconfirmed
report in Madrid today, however,
said the loyal forces in Toledo
had finally shelled their way into
the ancient fortress, capturing the
insurgents after a stiff fight.
Victory in the Cordoba sector
was also claimed by the govern
ment. Premier Caballero, who is
also war minister, broadcast that
the advance guard Of the govern.
ment column routed insurgents at
Montoro, near Cordoba, killing 100.
The position of the insurgents
at Oviedo, on the Bay of Biscay,
was described as Critical" in the
broadcast. ..
Some 5000 anarchists, radical
militiamen, and Asturian miners
armed with dynamite sticks, are
now virtually prisoners in San Sc
bastian. their escape to France cut
off.
The insurgent column coming
from Irun, under Colonel Beor-
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