Evening star., 1937-07-28

By the Associated Press.
MADRID, July 28.-Fagged by seven
days OF furious struggle over who Is
to have Madrid In spain's civil war,
insursent and government armies to-
day held their combat to artillery
duels.
Activity in the Brunette and Villa
nueva de la Canada sectors of the
western front was confined to she'll
Ing OF each sides positions while each
army dug itself in farther for a de-
termination of the battle for Madrid"
In the respite from the hand-to-
hand struggle precipitated by Gen.
Jose Miajas bold offensive into insur-
gent rear guard positions about Is
miles west Of the capital, insurgents
and government troops alike buried
their dead.
The bodies were gathered up with
ammunition and arms which had been
left In trenches and open fields when
tides Of lnfantrymen ebbed and flowed
over the hills and plains to the west.
Reports Salient Intact.
Aside from rectification Of the
tip OF the l9day-old drive by Miaja,
government commanders on the CEN
tral front, caused by the insurgent
recapture of Brunette last Saturday,
the government asserted It's salient
was still intact and heavily reinforced.
Both sides were believed organizing
for another test Of strength west of
Madrid.
The government asserted it had
twice the reserve strength Of the in
surgents and expressed the opinion
1t could defeat Generalissimo Fran
cisco Franco should he attempt
major push against the Madrid de-
lenses that have resisted his siege
since last November 6.
Government Drive Planned.
CThe government Is planning simul-
taneous drives on insurgents on the
Madrid, Santander and Aragon fronts,
1t IVES disclosed in Paris by Jose
Antonio de Aguirre. president of the
fallen Basque republic. He said the
former seat Of his government, Bill
bao. might not have fallen if the
present Madrid offensive had been
started earlier.)
While government machine gunners
held insurgents to their own trenches
yesterday around Villaneuva de Ia
Canada, communications center of the
MlaJa offensive, seven government
bombing planes made double attack
on the insurgent airdrome at Sala-
manca, Frances general headquarters.
This and another attack on Franco
airbase at Avila brought destruction
OF several insurgent planes In their
hangers. 1t was said. The defense
ministry announced that one OF the
insurgents trl-motored bombers was
shot down IN flames last night near
Madrid.
Aviators Bail Out
The ministry said five German avia-
TORS escaped from the burning shin
IN parachutes. Three were CAPTURED
another killed and the fate of the fifth
unreported.
Twenty miles south of the Brunette
sector, Frances troops executed a sur
prise attack on government positions
near cuesta de la Reina, but the pov-
ernment said the insurgents were re-
pulsed.
"a Salamanca radio broadcaster, re-
Viewing the western front fighting, said.
we have occupied all positions con-
structed by the enemy. We can saw
the red attack against our lines ended
with the governments complete de-
feat"
tAn nsurgent communique declared
large stores Of war materials-includ-
ing rifles. machine guns and ammuni-
tlon-were gathered in the Brunette
sector after the retreat of Miaia's
forces.
Tell Of Loyalist Retreat.
cine insurgents reported they had
pushed Miaja's troops about A. miles
north OF Brunette, to the outskirts of
Vlllanueva de la Canada.)
The government reported its troons
on the southern Spanish front, had
forced evacuation of Villafranca de
cordoba, Is miles northeast of Cor
oooa, killing or wounding 100 of
FRANCES men and capturing %.
CThe nsureent high command said
. junction Of insurgent advance
guards had been completed on the
CORDOBA front. but gave no further
details.)