852.00/3497: Telegram
The Consul at Seville (Bay) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:32 p.m.]
Referring to my telegram of October 8, 10 a.m., and previous, commanding general in Seville transmitted to me today text of telegram from General Franco replying to his telegram of October 8. General Franco stated that only military objectives in cities and towns are bombarded and that effort is made to cause no damage to surroundings though an occasional shell may fall outside the mark; that it is not possible to give advance notice of bombardments because war operations must be prepared in secret and carried out if possible with surprise to the enemy; that in all cases foreign property distinctively marked will be absolutely respected.
With regard to the Department’s October 9, 10 a.m.,67 during the week of October 5th local press published repeatedly articles concerning bombardments of Barcelona, Alicante and Valencia. The general belief is that the purpose of these reports was to draw warships of the opposing forces from northern ports to Mediterranean waters. No further reports have been published in this respect.