SPANISH WAR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12318, 4 April 1938, Page 3

SPANISH WAR

GANDESA_ FALLS FRANCO ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE WEDGE YAIX ATTACK OX LERIDA Loudon, April 2 General Franco’s forces, says a message from Saragossa, have captured Gandesa, an important junction commanding the roads to Tarragona and Tortosa, only 25 miles from the coast, where they ar« attempting to drive a wedge between the loyalist forces in Catalonia and those in the south. The insurgents have vainly attacked Lerida, the source of Barcelona’s power supply, tor four days, says the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in the former city. It is thought that if tile defenders, who have been promised adequate support in men and munitions from Madrid, can hold out a little longer they may save Lerida.

The insurgents claim to have defeated the International Brigade's violent counter-attacks at Lerida and also to have captured Benabarre, to the north near the Catalan border, says a message from Saragossa. The loyalists claim to have continued their advance at Guadalajara, says a message from Madrid, loyalist aeroplanes bombed Toledo, killing 11 persons and injuring 34. Barcelona, April 1 Some of General Franco’s troops were victims of an extraordinary ambush. The resistance of the defenders of Lerida stopped at dawn. Airmen saw no signs of life in the city and a body of troops, escorted by tanks, entered. Thereupon 15,000 Government troops, hidden in houses, opened fire. It is believed that they annihilated the insurgents.