FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 9

FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS

Loyalists’ Success In

Estremadura

DESPERATE BATTLE FOR KEY TOWN

Rebels Menace Tarragona In The North

By Telegraph.— Press Assn. —Copyright. LONDON, January 11. A desperate battle is being waged at Penarroya, the key point of the Estremadura front.

The republicans claim to have captured other vital positions by storming the heights overlooking Penarroya. The reinforced nationalists counter-attacked, but were repulsed. Pushing down a valley west of Azuaga, the republicans claim to have reached a point eight miles from the Seville-Salamanca railway. but the concentration of rebel artillery and aircraft is making progress costly.

The Hendaye correspondent of “The Times” says that General Franco’s forces on the Catalan front, startins from the village of Blancafore, broke the second line of the republican field fortifications defending the right bank of the River Francoli, which they later crossed with the aim of isolating Montblanch from its bases by cutting the main road running south-east to Tarragona. Many of the heights dominating the town have been already reached. Other forces are advancing along the main road from Gandesa toward Tarragona and are now within three miles of Falset. Tarragona is thus menaced on two sides.

Life is returning to the great plain of Lerida. A new nationalist town council lias been appointed at Borjas Blancas, and most of the refugees have returned.

BIG PRIZE FALLS TO REBELS

(Received January 12, 10.30 p.m.)

SARAGOSSA, January 12.

The rebels today captured Montblanch, the biggest prize of the Catalan push, after an all-clay Rattle during which artillery shelled the town while planes machine-gunned the defenders behind street barricades till dusk, when Navarrese troops stormed In at the bayonet point.

LOYALIST SAILORS UNDER BRITISH GUARD ,

(independent Cable Service.)

GIBRALTAR, January 11

The officers and crew of the damaged loyalist destroyer Jose Luis Diez were taken in military trucks escorted by an armed guard to the British destroyers Glowworm and Greyhound, which are bound for Almeria.

BRITISH PROTEST TO FRANCO . .

(Received January 12,10.30 p.m.)

LONDON, January 12.

The naval corespondent of “The Times” says that the Government has strongly protested to General Franco against the violation of British territorial waters iby nationalist vessels in the naval action on December 30. The Government is reserving the right to claim compensation for injuries to British subjects and damage to property.