Evening star., 1937-08-20
QUICK FALL DUE
FOR SANTANDER
'ranco's Legions Advancing
Relent|essIy Through
Rain and Mud.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND-
Gen. Francisco Franco forced to
fTrr to cleanup OF Northern
Spain in order to release troops to
effectively assault Madrid. uhich
has Tithstood his siege for nine
months Adrdnce on Santander in
recent days has been almost unop-
posed. In Eastern Spain rebels are
trying to cut Madrid Valencia COM
r1nntcdtions.
By the Associated Press.
HENDAYE, France Spanish bor-
perl. August 20.-Santander and the
Spanish northwest today appeared
doomed to quick fall before Gen.
frallssimo Francisco francois columns,
klowly but relentlessly advancing
through rain and mud.
Its only question of days" said
feveral French and Belgian citizens
|Tho arrived a. Bayonne from San
lander. last important City-strong-
bold of the government il Northwest
Spain.
These refugees said famine faced
he city because it was impossible to
Eet food through the inSurgent block
de Of the port.
Strong Resistance Met.
Today Francois troops pounded
through a natural barraee of fog
nd rain for possession of the water
Eorks of the city at Arriela Park
The generalisSimo's communique said
bis forces met strong resistance in all
ectors on the Santandcr front, with
government troops reinforced by thou
ands Of men rushed from the Astur-
as. The insurgent Navarro Brigade,
he communiQue said, captured Santa
plalla. taking $50 prisoners.
The baldlsh, middlc-aged insurgent
hieftain himself visited his relent-
esslv-advancing front.
In less than a week of the inS,wgent
Intensive, Francois commanders re-
ported, Santander's outlying defenses
n the tumhling terrain to the city's
outhwest had been virtually smashed.
Planes Grounded nv Rain.
The drive Yesterday was confined
. infantry attacks against the last
trands of the governments defensive.
nick fog and driving rain through
put the southern sector grounded the
rsurgent aerial armada and Francois
field guns were useless in the low
rlsibility.
The inSurgent operations were GEN.
cred on two vital highways. the
Furgos and Palencia roads running
Horth toward Santander. but the ad-
ance guard deployed on either side
bf the highways to wipe out San
ander's dWindling forces.
Meanwhile, normal business activ-
~ within Santander had come to
ense halt. Shops and factories were
)osed and workers were rushed to the
r1nges OF the city to build last line
ortlflcations against the advancing
nsurgents.
Put Hope in Fortifications.
Santander authorities clung to the
hope that fortifcations about Tor
elavega, an important industrial,
ntnlng and water power center. II
'niles to the southwest, might serve
o check the offensive. The erection
u defenses was centered there.
The United States destroyer Kane
teamed to Santander to evacuate
Americans. The French travler
Joulsette arrived yesterday at Bay
Fnne, France, with refugees from the
beleaguered seaport, who said the
fapltulation of Santander was con-
|ldered inevitable.
Ship Seeks AIgiers Refuge.
ALGIERS, August 20 LP,-The
spanish cargo ship Aldecoa sought
fefuge here today. Its captain as
erted the insurgent cruiser Canarias
fnd AN Italian destroyer" lay in
Fait outside the territorial limits for his
fhip. The Canarias recently was seen
ff Algiers. French military planes
were sent out tC Datrol tho area