SPANISH REBELS ADVANCE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 9

SPANISH REBELS ADVANCE

Loyalist Positions Penetrated

BIG BATTLE IN PROGRESS

Victory on Three Fronts Claimed (UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION —COPTBIGHT.) (Received December 26, 10.30 p.m.) BURGOS, December 25. General Franco’s Burgos „ headquarters claim a seven-kilometre advance to-day, making a total of 18 to 20 kilometres for the 48 hours. Approximately 500,000 men are engaged. The insurgents’ offensive is headed by cavalry and Italian “Black Flame” units, pushing through snow and mud the whole time.

It is regarded as one of the greatest battles of the war. The Nationalists continued their offensive over snow-clad heights which rise to 5000 feet.

It is claimed that they penetrated Republican positions by 10 miles in certain areas, taking hundreds of prisoners and considerable equipment. Their successes are still mounting. The Barcelona correspondent of the British United Press reports that a thaw slowed the rebel infantry advance and the initiative seems to have passed to the Loyalists, who are now attacking.

The rebels claim an advance of 121 miles in western Catalonia.

The Loyalists admit the loss of Almatret, a village on the Segre sector, to Italian forces; but they claim that their lines hold firm elsewhere.

An earlier message stated that the rebels had occupied Mayali and Sarroca. They state that a surprise was responsible for the ease of the first day’s advance against 200,000 Loyalists in the Segre, Nogueira, and Pallaresa sectors. General Franco is optimistic.

A message from Burgos states that General Franco’s break through on the Segre front is in easy terrain on the plains of Urgel where the Republicans are entrenched from the Pyrenees to the Ebro river. The Madrid correspondent of the British United Press states that a Loyalist mine blew up trenches manned by Moors, and artillery and machine-gun emplacements in University City and inflicted many casualties.

The rebels claim to have brought down 23 Loyalist aeroplanes in two battles.

ENGLISHWOMAN AND SPANIARD SHOT

COMPLICITY IN MISUSE OF CONSULAR BAG ALLEGED

(Received December 26, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 24. The Hendaye correspondent of the “News-Chronicle” reports that the English wife of the former film magnate, Senor Carreras, was shot on December 20 with a Spanish woman for alleged complicity in the misuse of the British Vice-Consulate dispatch bag on December 20.

The Nationalist authorities associated the women with the discovery of a letter rolled up in Mr Goodman’s clothing.

DEATH SENTENCES SUSPENDED

ANNOUNCEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER

(Received December 26, 7.10 p.m.)

BARCELONA, December 24.

The Prime Minister (Senor Juan Negrin) in a broadcast statement, “to all in Republican and Nationalist zones as well as those residing abroad,” announced the suspension of death sentences for high treason, espionage, and rebellion.

LEAN CHRISTMAS FARE

in Madrid

(Received December 26, 7.10 p.m.)

MADRID, December 23

The city’s besieged population is making its Christmas dinner sparingly from horse meat, dried peas, lentils, and beans. The soldiers in the trenches are receiving tobacco and brandy, but children in Madrid are going without presents.

DEATH OF NATIONALIST MINISTER

(Received December 26, 7.10 p.m.) VALLADOLID, December 24. The death has occurred from influenza of General Martinez Anido, Nationalist 'Minister for Public Order. General Anido was formerly a general in the Spanish Army. He emigrated to France in the latter days of the Repyblic and returned to Spain after the outbreak of the civil war.