Evening star., 1937-10-22
10000 Have Surrendered
and Northern Front Has
Disappeared They Say.
DECLARE 'M0PPING up
TO TAKE LITTLE TIME
Point Out 5000 Troops Soon Will
Be Released to Launch
Offensive Elsewhere.
BY the Associated Press.

tier, October 22.-Two forces of irsur-
gents, seeking to wipe out the last
government resistance in Spain's
northwest, marched today in a vise-
like movement against Asturian troops
caught in a pocket" west Of fallen
Gijon.
Insurgent headquarters said one
force was driving west from Gijon and.
another northeast from Pravia against
the disordered Asturians near Aviles.
Aviles lies about IL miles west Of Gijon
and Prabia 10 miles southwest of
Aviles.
Communications were established
between insurgent bases at Pravia
and Gijon and the long beleaguered
garrison at Oviedo. about IA miles
southwest of Gijon. The Asturian
siege of Oviedo was reported broken.
Maintain Strong Control.
Insurgents maintained strong con-
troll of the Biscayan seaport, Gijon,
which capitulated yesterday. Gen.
eralissimo Francisco Frances aides
estimated that more than $4,000
Asturian soldiers had surrendered
with their arms.
The Salamanca government ordered
a general celebration throughout in
surgent Spain for what was termed
disappearance of the northern front"
In Madrid, 20 persons we're
killed in last nights artillery bonn
bardment when approximately
$500 insurgent shells were fired
into the heart of the city. About
800 shells scored direct hits on
buildings
CThe bombardment, which lasted
an hour, was regarded here as in
the nature of an insurgent cele-
bration over the Gijon surrender0
New Offensive Planned.
Insurgent sources said the Asturian
mop-up campaign would be completed
in few days, releasing about $4,000
insurgent troops for an offensive else
where-possibiy in Eastern Spain
against either Barcelona or Valencia.
Insurgent military leaders, hailing
the capture Of Gijon as the greatest
insurgent victory In the 15-month
conflict, seemed hopeful of dealing
decisive blow against the Valencia
armies before any material number of
foreign soldiers could be withdrawn
under the London Intervention
Committees plan.
Franco hoped for victory before
Winter hampers operations.
The capture of Gijon was effected
through an Asturian officer who went
to Villaviciosa, IL miles east of the
port, in the company of an insurgent
flyer who had been held by the As
turians.
Calls in Insurgents.
The officer, who was named military
commander of Gijon after Leon Bel
armino Tomas, Governor Of Gijon,
and other anarchist leaders fed, tele-
phoned directly to Gen. Solchaga,
leader of the insurgent offensive, ask
ing him to come and take the city
as quickly as possible"
The insurgent flyer verified the off,
GERS statements in the surrender pro-
posal and Solchaga ordered a forced
march which resulted in occupation OF
Gijon yesterday afternoon.
The Gijon radio station reported
IL ships, carrying hundreds of .evacu-
ating officials and military leaders,
had been captured by the insurgents.
Insurgent dispatches to Irun said
Belarmino Tomas, who left on an
earlier boat, had been seized and i'm
prisoned at Santander with those who
accompanied him.
Small Boats Reach France.
Since the fall of Gijon small boats
of many descriptions which had pene-
trated the insUrgent blockade reached
French ports with refugees.
Dispatches from the Aragon. or
northeastern front, reported that in
surgents had attacked Sabinanigo,
capturing several positions and causing
heavy government losses. Minor en-
gagements at Fuentes, without any
change in lines, were reported.
With radios blaring the news, the
Asturian besiegers of the garrison at
Oviedo, southwest of Gijon. marched
battalion after battalion into insurgent
lines to surrender.
Immediately from battered Oviedo,
where a few hours before there had
been sniping from house to house, the
insurgent garrison started marching
to Gijon.
(The Oviedo Garrison had been
under siege almost since the beginning
of the war Is months ago. Asturians
had held parts of the city for months.
The rival trenches we're only 600 yards
apart in one sector.)
Aviles Is Captured.
From Pravia, southwest of Gijon.
the insurgents marched northeast and
took Aviles, the last government sea-
coast town. The Navarrese also reach
ed Aviles from Gijon, completing
march of some 25 miles in single day.
Gijon fell in much the same man.
ner as Santander. Once the govern
ment leaders we're off in ships and
airplanes, citizens and insurgent SYM
pathizers organized and seized the
city.
Insurgent radiomen receiving the
messages inviting them to hurry in
could scarcely believe it was not an
immense hoax.
Now with the Northwest in control
and with foe no longer at their rear.
the insurgents will be able to augment
their Aragon lines with $4,000 men
from the Northwestern forces. Insur-
gent warcraft that have been blockad-
ing Gijon we're freed for Mediter-
ranean duty OF Barcelona and
Valencia.