REBEL STRENGTH

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 11

REBEL STRENGTH

Fresh Troops For New Spanish Offensive SUCCESSFUL DRIVE Loyalists Block Way To Mediterranean By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 23, 9.45 p.m.) London, March 23. The starting of the present offensive within five days of the fall of Gaspe indicates the strength of the rebel reserves, says the correspondent of “The Times” at Burgos. It was not possible to transfer men and material from the old to the new theatre of war in the interval between the ending of the last and the opening of the new offensive. In view of this fresh troops were thrown into the scale at Huesca. Yesterday’s drive was launched from two points, one north of Huesca and the other to the south. Northern troops belonging to the Navarre army corps stormed six miles of fortified positions, the whole Sierra falling to the attackers with hundreds of prisoners. The second sector chosen for the attack was Zas Aimudevar. An army corps from Aragon smashed the loyalists in this sector and took an important height dominating the main road. Many loyalist militiamen surrendered. Spanish loyalist troops are barring the road from Aleaniz to Morelia and have blocked the way to the Mediterranean after repulsing three heavy attacks, says the Barcelona correspondent of “The Times.” Fierce Attack. An earlier message from Barcelona states that fierce insurgent attacks were made in the neighbourhood of Aleaniz. A Government communique states: “The enemy, supported by 47 tanks and numerous planes, tried to break through our lines three times, and succeeded at the fourth attempt, infiltrating slightly at Torrevelilla. The loyalists brilliantly counter-attacked and obliged the enemy to retire.” Saragossa reports that General Franco has opened a new offensive near Huesca, and claims to have broken the Republican lines at several points. The correspondent of “The Tinies” at Burgos reports that the rebels continue to establish a grip on the right bank of the River Guadaloupe. The loyalist resistance has stiffened, nevertheless they have been forced to yield ■ground gradually. Italians reached a point east of Valdealgorfa, where they stormed the heights dominating the junction of the inland roads to Valencia and Barcelona, capturing COO loyalists who were defending the sanctuary of Santa Barbara.