Evening star., 1938-06-10

rdrean coast In April Spunish
insurgents haze carried on offensive
on tDo fronts: In Northeastern
Spain against Barcelona and in
East-Centrnl Spain against Va
lencia. Attack against Barcelona
has slackened as forces of Gen.
Franco concentrate on capture OF
Valencia in order to cut Madrid's
last outlet to the outside porld.
~ the Associated Press.
HENDAYE, France, June 10
Spanish government defenses Of
Castellon de Ia Plana and Valencia
were imperilled today by a swift in
surgent drive toward the coast.
The insurgents cut in behind Al
bocacer. about q miles north of
Castellon, threatening isolation of the
18-mile line Of Notifications east
from Albocacer to the coast which
have stopped Generalissimo Francisco
Frances armies for two months.
Signs of Panic Reported.
Advices to the border said govern
ment militiamen were beginning to
show signs Of panic AS the insurgents
fought their way behind them to the
small village of La Varona, 20 miles
due south of Albocacer.
An advance of another few miles
would close the Albocacer sector in a
pocket and give the insurgents access
to the direct coastal highway south to
Castellon de la Plana and Valencia.
1t also would trap thousands of
Gen. Jose Miajas strongest defense
troops
From the La Varona area the in
surgents would have downhill path
along river valleys to Castelion and
the central part of the east coast.
The area. however. still is strongly
held by reinforced government troops.
Rebels Attack Lost Division"
In the far north, Gen. Francois
army in Catalonia launched drive on
the governments lost" 43d Division.
Capture of heights above the valley
Of the Cinca River opened the in
surgents' way toward Bielsa, base of
che lost divisions" operations.
The unit, which has been isolated
except by radio from the main govern
ment forces, has harassed the in
eurgent far northern army, descending
upon it in guerrilla raids from its al
most impenetrable stronghold in the
Pyrenees mountains.
Sailing Vessel Attacked.
Dispatches from the coast said that
seapiane. possibly the same that at
tackled Alicante, Denia and Gambia.
swooped down on sailing vessel off
Javea, just below Denia. and dropped
two bombs which missed the ship.
The British cruiser Penelope was
to put into Gambia tomorrow to in
yestigate the attacks there.
officers from the United States de-
Stroyer ClaXton, which had called at
Gambia to pick up Vice Consul Lee
Worley, were conducted on a survey
of the air raid damage by Edwin Ap-
fel. British manager of the port Mr.
Worley. who had been stationed at
Valencia. had been given leave to go
10 fdIlS lOT an dppenueCtOUly.
May Be From BaIearics.
The lone raider, credited by dis |
patches from the coast with much of |
the recent destruction on land and |
sea, was believed to be operating either |
from Palma, in the Balearic Island or |
from a mobile base at sea-
The whole coast was reported on
&he alert to bring down the marauder
whose favorite hour of striking is
around midnight.
Guided to his detectives by daylight
Reconnaissance, the airman brings his
seaplane down from the night sky,
dropping bombs first, then idling
about while machine cunning his OBJ
iective with incendiary and armor-
piercing bullets.
En- route to his base early yes
terday, the seaplane swooped down,
almost touching the sea to machine
gun launch. With the launch rid
died, the seaplane climbed and con-
tinued to its base.
100 Planes in Air Battle.
MADRID, June 10 (P).-A govern
ment communique declared today 10
tnsurgent warplanes were destroyed