Evening star., 1937-06-19
|CRUMBL|NC BILBAO
SCENE OF TERROR
City WaterIess Four Days,
Refugees Flock Across
Insurgent Lines.
BY EDWARD J. NEIL.

WITH THE INSURGENTS AT
BILBAO. June 10 (F-Many OF Bill
baos 100000 men. women and chill
dren hid in the railway tunnels and
cellars Of the stricken city today
waiting for relief from one OF the
most terrible scenes Of horror and
privation since the height Of the
World War.
Without water supply for four
days. foodless for two days and with
out electricity since Thursday, refu-
gees from the terror stricken city
came through the insurgent lines with
tales OF executions, looting snd
marauding by the last Of the Asturian
miners planning a finish defense at
their barracks.
They said thousands of wounded
in the four major hospitals and In
homes converted into first-aid sta
tions were deserted by doctors and
nurses
All Vehicles Commandeered,
A weeping nurse named Carmela
Nunar, who staggered up the path to
the church here, said the govern
ment chieftains had Communicated
automobiles and ambulances for e.
cape, unmindful Of the needs OF SOL
diers felled In the week-long insur-
gent drive through Bilbao's cement
and steel defense belt.
l can see a part OF all this horror
from the Begona Church where the
city's center begins.
No insurgent soldiers are between
here and the last Asturians who have
barricaded themselves in the barracks
IN the northwest industrial section.
Actually I am 80 close that two GOV.
ernment soldiers came up to the
church with arms appraised, one sur.
rendering a long .3s pistol and the
other an automatic to Capt. Aguilera
the press oficer accompanying me
Joyful in Escape.
To us came other groups struggling
up the long stairs to the church waving
white handkerchiefs, dirty-faced, bed
raEaled and weeping, embracing one
another with relief for having escaped
the terrors Of the Basque capital, once
one OF the worlds most beautiful
cities
All crowded around. piecing together
their story and pausing only to shout
down to others not to climb the stairs
because they had been mined by the
Basques.
What is left of a long string OF
wooden buildings below to our left
containing hundreds OF thousands Of
rounds Of munitions and hand sren-
AIDES, is burning briskly with a steady
rattle OF exploding cartridges and the
dull crash OF the grenades.
Toward the right side OF the city
smoke Is rising from the University OF
Commerce, dynamited Just before we
reached the church.
On the winding road here we found
the body OF farmer who, women
nearby said tearfully, had been killed
by the Basques because they suspected
he might be spy,
Picture OF Desolation.
Outwardly the rest OF the CITY ahead
Is deathly calm, picture of desola ton
FROM the city streets came a group
OF women and f1rst-aid man, his
white apron stained with the blood
OF wounded he treated before he fed.
His pockets were still packed with
bottles OF iodine and gauze dressings.
The normal Bilbao population of
almost 100000 was increased bv an
other 100000 refugees who are crowd
Ing underground. The only water
available, the women said. was the
drippings from the damp roofs along
the railway tunnels running under the
city.
Even the black bread is as hard A
granite and AZ unnourishing Is Ger
many's wartime potato bread, they
declared.
"Nada! Nada' Nothing! Moth.
cally.
In the streets there are many
bodies Of soldiers who died Of lack OF
care; they are dying like files in the
hospitals" said the f1rst-aid man, his
lace gaunt and black with a weeks
beard.
Men Forced TO Fight.
Yesterday the Asturians drove
many men from their houses and gave
them rifles. They chased them out
TO defend Archanda Hill and then
looted their houses while they were
gone.
Yesterday they started killing =
few people.
They executed a major and two
lNutenants at the barracks because
they we're former civil guards sus-
pected OF Nationalist (insureent)
leanings.
The women were worst of all.
They ran through the streets pointing
out men to the militia and CRYING.
There's a Fascist-kill him!'
L saw one man pressed against a
wall by bowling women. He merely
bowed his head and folded his arms.
"All right, shoot me- he said
They did"
Refugees crowding the road to San
tander now are being turned back
because there is neither food nor
lodgings for them.
Refugees painted a picture of hope
less confusion a. the outgoing stream
clashed with those returning, all
nghting for room on the only road