Evening star., 1938-07-19

tains in frontal attack against the
old town which spans valley between
two castle-croWned hills.
The fall Of Segorbe, with the main
government army still to the north
west at Viver, virtually would trap
the flower of Gen. Jose Miaja's troops.
Both the highway and the railroad
already were under the fire of Insur-
gent Generalissimo Francisco frances
long-range artillery.
The only other way for the govern
ment troops retreat to Valencia was
by a network of narrow mountain
paths and trails in the hills forming
a natural boundary between Valencia
and Castellon Provinces.
Gen. Miaja's new defenses were
placed hastily on Ragudo Hill, less
than 2 miles northwest of Viver.
Government reports said an unprece-
derted insurgent drive had dislodged
defense troops, while insurgents said
$50 square miles northwest of Viver
were occupied over the week end.
Two FHidScS captured.
Government reports said the insur-
gents were making full use of tanks,
armored cars, planes and artillery to
blast government trenches and to pur-
sue retreating militiamen.
Advices from insurgent field head
quarters said Gen. frances troops
captured two villages northeast Of
BARRACKS today during cleanup oper-
ations.
They were Cortes de Arenoso and
Fuente la Reina, the latter miles
north of Viver.
Along the Teruel-Mediterrane
highway, the insurgents were attack
ing Casilla del Sordo, about five miles
north of Viver.
(Premier Benito Mussolini Of Italy
in telegram to Franco on the wars
second anniversary predicted the in
surgents will be crowned with vic
tory in the third year of the con-
flict)
A thousand-pound bomb hit the
British merchantmen Standard in
Valencia Harbor today, setting her
afire, Associated Press reports from
Valencia said. :
Her crew and two non-intervention
observers had close escape from death
or injury.
The fire soon was eXtinguished.
1t was the first bombing of Brit
ish warship in recent weeks, a lull in
such attacks in Spanish waters having
followed vigorous British protests to
Generalissimo Francisco Franco, leader
of insurgent Spain.
The observers aboard the vessel were
an Italian and Netherlander.
Five planes made the raid. Eight
Spanish workers were killed as their
heavy bombs plunged into the dock
area.
One Dead in Raid.
The insurgents mad given British
ships in Spanish government ports a
rest OF nearly a month after it was
believed that Prime Minister Cham
berlain had put pressure on Premier
Mussolini of Italy, Frances friend, to
AAofC VIC ldlOS SUOppCO.
Barcelona Cathedral Bombed.
BARCELONA, July 10 R).-The
celebrated Cathedral Of Barcelona was
struck by an insurgent bomb during
an air raid today.
The bomb tore through the roof near
the front of the cathedral and plunged
to the floor east Of the nave, carry
Ing down an iron chandelier and a
heap of stone.
The interior OF the cathedral had
been stripped Of ornaments since
early in the war, when the iron doors
were bolted and sign posted saying:
Building appropriated by the gen.
eralitat (government) for service OF
peoples institutions"
Crowds gathered about the 18th CEN
tury church, which was considered one
of the finest examples Of Gothic archi-
lecture In Catalonia, attempting to
view the result Of the raid, but the
damage was not visible from the ex-
terior.
AAc ASW VDlVOIS WHO were per-
nitted to enter kept away from the |
gaping hole In the root. as sections |
continued to crumble and fall to the
door.
Another bomb struck q nearby ONCE |
tnfiicting heavy damage.
&nD1AHA CoSA1Av~, n~I i