LERIDA FALLS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 11

LERIDA FALLS

Capture By Franco’s Troops

REBEL SUCCESSES Advance Column Eighteen Miles From Seaboard Bv Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received April 4, 7.50 p.m.) London, April 4. It is officially announced from Saragossa that, entering by three routes, the rebels captured Lerida at 7 p.m. General Franco’s advance column is now 18 miles from the seaboard. • Forty thousand rebel troops attacked Betid a. The defenders numbered 20,000. , Moors stormed the trenches on the Saragossa side of Lerida, but until 4 p.m. the loyalists maintained a terrific resistance, rallying for a last counterattack at 6.30 p.m., which the rebels met by charging with fixed bayonets behind tanks. The loyalists "’ere overcome and abandoned the struggle. They fled across the river Segre and the rebels entered Lerida. A message from Perpignan state.' that rebel aircraft, after flying over France, severely bombed Portbou in order to prevent the return to the garrison at Barcelona of 4uoo disarmed loyalists from LuChon. Only 168 with families in General Franco s territory chose to return to rebel Spain. _ Madrid Shelled.

In retaliation for the Guadalajara operations which the loyalists are still pressing, it is reported from Madrid that new rebel batteries installed by Germans bombarded the capital for minutes, killing 75 and wounding 200. Republican communications between Valencia and Barcelona are now confined to a bottle-neck, the closing ot which will cut off their last lifeline between Barcelona and Madrid. The rebels have captured Moradeebro and also Cherta and Pinell. The Saragossa correspondent of “The Times” states that rebel divisions captured Batea, 25 miles north-east of Alcaniz, and vanquished four international brigades, killing 500 and taking 2500_ prisoners. A further detachment of English volunteers has surrendered to the Italians. According to an earlier message an official statement issued from the insurgent headquarters at Salamanca announced the occupation of outlying houses at Lerida and said that Moorish troops took the first houses. A Barcelona communique admitted that the republicans were forced to retreat from the outskirts of Lerida, but stated that the resistance was continuing H.M.S. Hood has arrived at Barce--I<>na Loyalist Reinforcements.

Saragossa reported that the republican resistance at Lerida had been strengthened by brigades from the Madrid front and by international units. Artillery supplemented heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. Houses .were converted into for tresses, and the streets were crise-crossed with redoubts and trenches from which the defenders fired unceasingly, but General Franco’s warplanes caused heavy carnage. Rebel infantry charged and gained footing in the first houses. ■ A further message from Saragossa states that 96 British prisoners, part of a battalion of the International Briglide who were captured during the advance in Catalonia, have arrived there—a motley crowd with cropped heads and unshaven faces and wearing nondescript clothing. “Cannon-Fodder.” A Londoner, John Myers, said they were supposed to be advancing to a new position east of Alcaniz and "ere ordered to fall out, being told that a mechanised column was coming. Suudenly insurgent tanks appeared round a bend in the road. “We had no alternative,” he said, “but to surrender, I don’t believe more volunteers would come to Spain if we could return home and tell of our experiences. We were regarded just as cannon-fodder.” The majority of the Britishers were previously unemployed. The special courts established at Madrid to deal with cases of spying, treason, and defeatism condemned eight men and two women to terms of imprisonment varying from six to 30 years. General Franco’s forces claim that thev defeated the International Brigade in violent counter-attacks at Lerida, also that they captured Benabarre. near the Catalan border. The Republicans aerially bombed Toledo, killing and injuring 34. Nationalists captured Gandesa, an important junction commanding the roads to Tarragonna and Tortosa, 25 miles frojn the coast, states a Saragossa message. The Republicans claim that they have continued their advance on Guadalajara.