ESPITE the rigorous censorship and the severance of all tele~ phonic communications, it appears that civil war is raging in a wide area in Spain, says a, Reuter despatch from Gibraltar of July 20. Malaga, important seaport on the southern coast, and which boasts a large British colony, is reported to be in flames. A United Press report states that the British destroyer Shamrock has been dispatched to Malaga to protect British nationals there, while the cruisers Cairo and Orion are standing by.
Heavy fighting has broker' out in the frontier town of La Linea, says Reuter.
Numbers of wounded men and women are being brought to Gibraltar by the military authorities and rushed to hospital. The wounded include an Englishman, Mr. Edward Marshall, former manager of the Y.M.C.A. in Gibraltar, who is suffering from bullet wounds, An estimate of the dead is given by United Press, who state that refugees report seeing 200 bodies strewn on the streets of the border town, Meanwhile, the rebellion, which started in Spanish Morocco, seems to be spreading rapidly northwards through Spain proper, with defections from both sea and land forces hitherto loyal to the government. Even in Madrid it is learned that there was an abortive uprising among' garrison troops.
Madrid, July 18, 'The Government to-day dispatched and, sea and air forees to recover 'Meliila, Spanish Morocco, tram military rebels who. seized' control' of the garrison there yesterday, From behind the most severe censorship ever imposed In Spain, official communique issued at 8.35 sin, said: "A new criminal attack on the government has been frus~ trated" Later it was said that the Spanish Foreign Legion had. taken Melilla, However, the situation. remained a complete mystery and apparently there is some question 23 to the loyalty of the Foreign Legion.
Martial law is known to have been declared at Melilla and the Government Is dealing with the emergency with the utmost energy, apparently fearing that the revolt might spread throughout Spain, Gen, Miguel Nunez de Prados, director-general of Acronautics, was urgently appointed Inspector-General of all {roops Morocco. The capital is quiet but a portentous atmosphere of tension prevails in all circles, The "state of alarm" was extended throughout the country for a month wednesday, when government began raiding supposed head quarters of Fascist organizations. Leave of all police and storm guards were cancelled on "Thursday, and those on vacation were recalled to uty, Personal telephone calls to the provinces and abroad were prohibited and all calls by newspaper employees were restricted to those placed at the Central 'Telephone Headquarters and restricted to written material approved in advance by government' consors, After many hours of silence, Madrid radio station this mornin broadcast an official announcement shedding some light on the mystery of what had. been happening "A new criminal offence ments at some bases in Africa re yelled. It is expected that they will overcome rapidly."
Reliable int garrison had assured the government that It would support the established. authorities, "President Manuel tot last night at his fee in the palace, conferring with Cabinet members and leaders of the Left. of the Legionnaires. A. regiment of cavalry has been rushed to Seville to suppress an uprising there. Troops stationed at Burgos and Pampeluna are also stated to have rebelled, while rouble has broken out in the Canary Isles and the Balearic Isles.
Loyal army aircraft are reported to have bombed Melilla and Ceuta. Two Spanish flotilla leaders from' Cartagena are proceeding at top speed for Morocco, Senor Alejandro Leroux, the former Premier, has fled to Portugal. All British army and navy men at Gibraltar have been Ordered not to. set foot into Spanish territory as from to-day—Rewter, Gibraltar, July 19, Rebel troops from Morocco, who. fare reported to have landed to-day. at Cadiz, are stated to be marching towards "Saville where they intend Joining insurgents there in an advance on Madrid.—Reuter,
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