WAR MAY FINISH THIS MONTH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22370, 6 April 1938, Page 9

WAR MAY FINISH THIS MONTH

Loyalist Resistance Failing ARMISTICE LIKELY IN SPAIN Insurgent Forces In Tortosa ftnriTED PRESS ASSOCIATIOM—COPYRIGHT.) (Received April 5, 9.30 p.m.) SARAGOSSA, April 4. It is officially announced that the rebels have entered Tortosa, the Loyalist seaplane base, through which run the last road and rail communications linking Barcelona with Valencia and Madrid. The rebels have also captured Morelia, commanding the road to the Mediterranean after a 14 miles’ advance over a 4000 ft pass, taking 1000 prisoners of the third mechanised column.

The captors of Gandesa have occupied Mora, 20 miles from the coast.

The Perpignan correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” has reliably learned that the rebel government is preoccupied with preventing further slaughter and destruction in Catalonia, and accordingly reports of the possibility of an armistice probably possess substance, as further resistance is becoming out of the question. Those well informed believe that the war will be finished at the end of the month. It is reported from Saragossa that the Nationalists have entered Tor-' tosa. General Franco has issued orders not to bomb or shell Barcelona at present. He hopes to isolate the city, so that the moderate Catalans may take over and invite him to maintain order, this involving an unconditional surreW.er. Desperate Last Stand The rebels are rooting out in a house-to-house search the few remaining Loyalist snipers, who prefer de..th to retreat from Lerida. The main rebel body is continuing the campaign on the outskirts while the tanks, which had been active all night, are patrolling the city to protect the shock troops and civil guards who are doing police duty.

The Loyalists’ last stand was a desperate one. Eighty-five bodies were found strewn in a single trench. The Lerida correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that with the capture of Lerida General Franco is_ master of 36 of Spain’s 50 provincial capitals. The correspondent of the British United Press at Barcelona says the Republican Government is being reorganised. Senor Juan Negrin will take over the Ministry of Defence, in addition to the Premiership and the Ministry of Finance. The Republicans, holding positions east of Lerida, repulsed insurgent attacks.

Government forces, continuing their offensive at Guadalajara, captured Mocasilla. Their cavalry advanced several miles, capturing the slopes of Valdalagua.

FRANCO’S MINISTER IN LONDON DIPLOMATIC STATUS NOT ADMITTED (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELKS3.) RUGBY, April 4. Answering questions in the House of Commons about the status of the Duke of Alba and Berwick in Britain, Mr R. A. Butler, Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs, said that diplomatic status had not been conceded to the Duke of Alba as General _ Franco’s representative in Hritain any more than to Sir Robert Hodgson the British agent in rebel topain. But as it had been necessary to secure certain privileges for sir Robert Hodgson and his staff, so privileges had been conceded in London to the Duke of Alba. Such concessions involved no admission ot diplomatic status on either side. EVACUATION OF BRITISH FROM BARCELONA PREPARATIONS BY NAVY (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, April 4. H.M.S. Hood has arrived at Barcelona, where her commander will discuss with the British authorities Jl ® re safety of British nationals and arrange for their early evacuation should the necessity arise. exchange of prisoners APPOINTMENT OF BRITISH ARBITRATOR (BSITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, April 4. Referring to the proposed appointment of a British arbitrator for the exchange of Spanish prisoners, Mr R. A. Butler (Un-der-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) in the House of Commons said that Field-Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode would take up his duties as soon as the Spanish Government’s reply had been received, An affirmative answer had already been received from General Franco’s Administration.

“SPAIN FOR THE SPANISH ” ITALIAN FORMULA FOR PROBLEMS APPROACHING END OF WAR HAILED (Received April 5, 11.30 p.m.) ROME, April 5. “With the approaching end of the war in Spain the Spanish question will be solved according to the Italian formula—Spain for the Spanish,” declares the publicist, Dr. Virgilio Gayda, in a Government-in-spired article in “II Giornale dTtalia.” He adds: “This formula promises tranquillity in Spain.” Credit for Lerida’s fall is largely given to the Italian troops. CANADIAN PRISONERS CAUSE DILEMMA MOVE FOR CLASSIFICATION AS COMMUNISTS OTTAWA, April 4. Radical friends of 50 Canadians who have been captured by the Nationalists in Spain ha’-e appealed to the Prime Minister (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King) to intercede, thus creating a Government dilemma, as the same parties have previously been vehemently demanding nonrecognition of the Nationalists. Advices received by the Government state that the Canadians joining the Loyalists had forsworn their Canadian citizenship, and had sworn loyalty to the Valencia People’s Front. There is a strong agitation throughout the Dominion for their classification' as Communists, and that they be prohibited from again entering Canada unless they take the oath of loyalty to the King.

deliberate attacks ALLEGED

BRITISH MERCHANT CAPTAINS PROTEST LONDON, April 4. The captains of fiVe British merchantmen at Tarragona, a Mediterranean seaport of Spain, about 63 miles, south-west of Barcelona, have informed the British Government that aeroplanes are daily deliberately attacking them. The Government has asked General Franco immediately to order a cessation of the attacks.