Evening star., 1937-05-17
REBELS SET FOR DRIVE.
Final Assault" on Bilbao May Get
Sea Aid
Dy the Associated Press.

"F1n4 Assault on Blbe0 May Get
Sea Aid.
HENDAYE, Franco-Spanish frontier,
May l7-Spain's insurgent armies OF
the north, creeping ut snaus pace
toward their Bilbao goal for q month
and halt, Strengthened their lines on
long and curving front some 10 miles
from the Basque capital today to clear
the way for final assault"
There were unconfirmed reports that
insurgent help from the sea was i'm
minent to enable Generalissimo
Frances forces to completely encircle
Bilbao. A fleet Of insurgent transports,
guarded by warships, was reported
sighted of the Spanish Biscayan Coast,
but the advices could not be verified.
As 1t is, Bilbao is defended both by
the sea and by q triple semi-circle of
fortifcations which starts on the coast,
swings south around the Basque cap
ital, and returns once more to the
ocean. The insurgent armies now are
pounding at the land fortifications. It
Is possible they may attempt complete
encirclement.
Six Villages Fall.
BY landing troops from the trans
ports near the town Of Laredo, on Z
tip OF the coast northwest Of Bilbao,
the insurgents might be able to at
tack from the sea at points within
the western end Of the trench semi
circle.
Today the insurgent ground forces
reported six new villages had fallen
into their hands and that they had
cleared the road between Guernica
and Amo9<bteta. This road runs north
and south at a distance about IL miles
east Of Bilbao.
Successes like this, the insureents
said. enabled them to ward of the
danger Of . defense encircling move
ment. Basques, however, reported
they had stalled the insurgent ad-
vance for the time being at one point
IN the same general sector, taking
mountain top In counter-a attack
about 10 miles east of Bilbao. The
heaviest fighting was around the town
Of Gorocica.
Northeast Of Bilbao, near the sea,
the insurgent lines bend around to
SOLITUDE Hill, likewise about 10 miles
distant from the capital. The hill
commands the road which runs
southwest from Bermo, on the ssa, to
Bilbao. The Basque government de-
tenders still hold the summit Of
SOLITUDE. There has been hard fght-
ing there for more than . week.
In the month and q half Of the
push on Bilbao, the insurgents have
advanced only about is miles.
They have used airplanes, tanks and
artillery in concentrated doses to
pound back the Basque defenders.
The mountainous country, abound
ing In natural redoubts, has slowed
the advance. But most of these
redoubts now are in insurgent hands
Franco, however, still Is opposed by
. numerically strong army and must
proceed with caution. He wants Bill
bao for its factories and its access to
the sea, and to complete his conquest
OF the northwest 80 he can throw all
his forces into . nnal drive on Ma
drid, in Central Spain.
After hours Of intense lombard
ment Of the series OF hills near
Bilbao, held by the enemy. the gov
ernment troops went over the top to
take one Of the mountain strongholds
ut bayonet's point.
Despite the bitter insurgent re-
sistanoe the Basques succeeded in
reaching the top Of the hill, where
they forced back the insurgent de-
tenders after . sanguinary hand-to-
hand battle.
To the north Of the Biscargi sector,
hard fighting continued for possession
Of Mount SOLITUDE, where insurgents
attempted to break through the lines
which the government constructed
hastily to prevent the march on
Bilbao.
In this region the insurgents were
reported to have taken the initiative,
but latest dispatches from the battle
front declared the attacks had been
beaten OH. leaving the lines Of the
Basque defsnds1v intact.