Evening star., 1937-01-24

many times, gtDtrg rise TO Specuto-
tion as to the ertent OF foreign
support. Despite denidts By seu-
erdl major polUers that aid had
been sent to either the loydlists,
defending the Spanish capital, or
the insurgents. attacking the city
from several sides, there hare been
indications that tens OF thousands
OF foreigners are in the tray. These
have included uniformed soldiers
OF seperal countries and some
American counters.
Es the Associated Press.
MADRID. January 23.-Fascist ar
tlllery shells dropped into the center
of Madrid today. firing buildings and
scattering the frightened populace in
the heaviest hombardment that sec
ton has undergone since the siege
started.
For two half-hour periods the in
sufgents rained at least 80 projectiles
into the area, using larger shells than
in previous attacks. Some were
inches in diameter,
Thoroughfares thronged with Satur-
day crowds quickly cleared as the roar
Of the exploding missiles mingled with
the clang of fire engines rushing to
hlazes in shattered structures.
One person was killed and at least
20 we're wounded. Several important
buildings we're hit, one Of them IL
times. None of the fires got out OF
control.
The cannonading was not renewed
In the late afternoon. as it had been
on other days, and civilians soon be-
gan strolling along the streets and
avenues again, eager to see the dam
age
Street hawkers came out OF hiding
ana workmen hurried to clear away
the debris.
Reminder Of Alfonso.
Madrilenos remembered it was the
day of Saint Ildefonso. patron saint Of
all Alfonsos, and wondered whether
the Fascists had chosen the day to
remind them Of their former King
(AIfonso who fed from Spain in 1s3)
by a series of shells.
At least 1t was the fourth time the
insurgents had selected special days
to send high explosives into the heart
of Madrid. The first was Christmas,
the second New Year and the third
the feast Of the Magi, January (oo-
served by Spanish children as Christ
mas is in the United States.
=. A Socialist air raid over Cadiz Har-
Dor, which resulted in sinking OF one
OF a concentration Of insurgent vessels,
vas reported by the air ministry.
Valencia authorities received reports
from Almeria port officials that Ger
man seaplanes had bombed the gov
ernment airbase at Roquetas. on the
Southern Mediterranean Coast.
Five planes, using as base a ship
believed by Socialists to be the Nazi
pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spec,
cropped a number Of bombs on the
airfield.
other reports from Malaga said
insurgent planes dropped bombs on
houses in the outskirts of that Medi-
terranean port toward which Gen.
Gonzalo Queipo de Llano's insurgent
army Is driVlnG.
The Madrid government contended
Its nilitiamen repulsed a bitter in
surgent attack in the devastated
university city area, aimed at recap
turing territory won for the gov
ernment in a weeks bitter fighting.
Socialist advances all along the Mad
rid line were claimed by the gov
ernment.
Gold-Copper Deal Proposed.
(Sources close to the French for
eign office declared France was ready
to inpound Spanish gold shipped to
France If the Spanish Fascists would
halt the flow of copper to Germany
and italy In payment for munitions.
TAT St. Jean De Luz, armed in
surgeant trawlers were reported to
have cut on food supplies for nearby
Bilbao
The shelling of Madrid, coming on
the final day given to the civilian
populace to register for evacuation.
caused some families to comply with
the order, but the great mass Of resi-
dents had not yet conformed.
The defense junta ordered all thea
ters closed January 81. 1t an
nounced some would be reopened un-
der government direction after that
date.