London, July 26, While the true position in' Spain Femains obscure, because of conflict Ing claims by the Government and the rebels, anxiety in London and Washington over the plight of British and American nationals in be Teaguered towns deepened to-day as result of the reported murder of the American Consul anda British engineer in Barcelona. 'The victims, according to stories told by air pas' sengers reached Port Vendee, France, met their death in the sireeis at the hands of unruly elements, who have been responsible for much burning Of property and looting. The murders said to have occurred shortly after strict orders had been issued protect foreigners.
There are no Indications of an early Jdecision concerning the fate Madrid, where it is officially claimed that, following his repulse by loyalists, Gen. Emilio Mola, who 1s leading the rebel attack on the capital, has witn-drawn towards Segovia, 43° miles northwest of Madrid. Segovia Ix Ukely 10 be the scene of the next important engagement, os three loyalist columns are converging on the city.
Meanwhile, the evacuation of for-feign nationals from troubled centres proceeding as fast as circumstances Forty-one British athletes, who wont to Barcelona to participate in the Workers Olympiad, arrived last night at Marseilles aboard a British destroyer. They declared that they had "nothing but praise for their treatment by the Spaniards. Churches, they added, were burned down, but never looted, 'Over 7,000 Spanish refugees, ai cording to despatches from Gibraltar, have returned from their camps neat the frontier to La Linea, an the border. between Gibraliar and Andalucia, following a British order that they' must evacuate, owing. to the fear of an epidemic. Further Jevacuations are expected—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.