REBELS CAPTURE BARCELONA’S LAST DEFENCES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 104, 26 January 1939, Page 11

REBELS CAPTURE BARCELONA’S LAST DEFENCES

Terrific Bombardment Heralds Fall Of City

ADVANCE PRACTICALLY UNOPPOSED IN ALL SECTORS Tens Of Thousands Flee Amid Crashing

Of Bombs

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright,)

LONDON, January 24.

General Franco’s forces have crossed the Llobregat aerodrome and have reached a point one mile from Barcelona’s suburbs. The advance was made by Moroccan forces, which have been moving along the coast road.

The nationalist batteries are pounding the port of Barcelona. Over 2000 prisoners had been taken by midday. Simultaneously with the advance of the Moroccans, the fourth division of Navarrese crossed the Llobregat line near Martorell, south of Manresa. The advance continues practically unopposed on all sectors.

It is officially stated in Burgos, nationalist headquarters, that the nationalists have captured the entire Llobregat Line — Barcelona’s last defence. The Moorish troops are 10 miles > from the city gates and a terriffic aerial bombardment heralds the impending fall of the capital.

A Barcelona report states that the nationalists have been sighted and are advancing swiftly on all sectors. The city is under direct artillery fire. Manresa has been occupied and Gava completely surrounded. The troops are only three miles from the aerodrome. Over 100 people in the city have been killed in the air raids.

Reports persist that Dr. Negrin’s Government has left Barcelona for a destination unknown. It is understood that General Miaja, who is in command of the defence of Madrid, is en route to Barcelona from Madrid.

' Amid the crashing of boinbs, the roar of anti-aircraft guns, and the boom of General Franco’s big guns, the city today- began feverishly to pack up. ' The Government army is determined to hold on to the last, but tens of thousands are fleeing. Machinery has been stripped from factories, and the whole apparatus of the Central and Catalan Administration has been carted off. The road to Gerona is jammed with vehicles of all descriptions. Gerona, which normally has 25,000 inhabitants, received 20,000 refugees last week, yet new crowds are pouring in. Officials are vainly searching for quarters in which to install Government Departments, which are being driven further north to Figuera. Some departments, which came originally from Madrid to Valencia, thence to Barcelona, are now on the road again after travelling 600 miles in two years. The people of Barcelona find it incredible that the battle front, which was 100 miles away last month, is now visible from the city. Madrid could be defended, because there was at least one gun to five insurgent guns, but Barcelona probably has not one to twenty. It is obvious that the shallow trenches, hastily dug, are of no use against the massed batteries of artillery and the fleets of bombers. The destroyer Greyhound has taken off the women members of the British staffs and the cruiser Devonshire is still standing by to pick up the Consular officials. The French cruiser Suffren has arrived at Caldetas and will remain at the disposal of the French Ambassador.

FOREIGN HELP FOR FRANCO

Eden Denounces “Certain Stated’ (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24. Grave concern at developments in. Spain was expressed by Mr. Anthony Eden in a speech at Coventry today. General Franco, he said, was advancing on Barcelona by reason 'of air power and artillery power more formidable than the civil war had yet seen. Everyone knew who provided this armament, and who continued to provide it, in open violation of agreements and pacts. t “The truth is,” said Mr. Eden, “that certain States, though pledged to non-intervention, are intervening on a scale they deem sufficient to ensure victory for General Franco, and declare that if France dares do even a fraction of what they are doing they will reconsider the situation.” How could dictation of that kind provide a basis for true friendship? he asked.

NEW CULTURAL PACT

Germany And Rebel Spain

(Received January 25, 7.30 p.m.)

BERLIN, January 25.

.Mutual interest in. each other’s achievements is.the object of a cultural agreement signed today between Germany and rebel Spain. It provides tor the building of a German House in Spain and a Spanish House in Berlin, also for a more extensive study of the respective languages in schools and universities, exchange of students and lecturers and the prohibition of lilernture attacking either regime.

* German schools in Spain are accorded the right to use their own methods without supervision.

TENSION GROWS IN EUROPE

German Warning To France LONDON, January 24. The Australian Associated Press says that the sudden success of General Franco’s drive to Barcelona has resulted in a marked heightening of European tension. It is learnt that Britain succeeded in persuading the French Foreign Minister, M.i Bonnet, to delay the speech he intended making tonight, which was expected to have the most important influence on the threatened crisis. M. Bonnet has agreed not to speak before Thursday.

It was considered most undesirable that M. Bonnet should commit France to any, policy before the position in Barcelona is clarified. It is learnt that suggestions that France should seize Minorca if the Italians did not retire from Spain was not merely idle gossip. The question of Minorca’s future was raised by the French during the recent Anglo-French talks. <

In this connexion the “Diplomatic Correspondence,” official organ of the German Foreign Office, issues a warning against the suggestion that France might seize Minorca .and Spanish Morocco, which it describes as astonishing and dangerous, and evidence of either a disregard of realities or an irresponsible attempt at aggravation.

BRITISH HELP FOR CHILD REFUGEES

Another £20,000 Contributed (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24. The British Government is making an immediate payment of £20,000 to the International Commission for the Assistance of Child Refugees in Spain. This payment is an advance in respect of a further contribution to the funds of the Commission the amount of which has not yet been specified. The British Government has already given £20,000 to the fund, which has also received £25,000 from other Governments and wheat from the United States to the value of £37,000.

In addition, other Governments have already promised further contributions totalling £85,000, while the United States has also promised to send wheat to the probable value of £60,000 for six months.

ARMS FOR SPAIN PLEA British Labour Moves (British Official Wireless.) (Received January 2a, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 24. On behalf -of the London Socialist Party and the London Trades Council, Mr. Herbert Morrison, in a letter to Mr. Chamberlain, asks that in the interests of world liberty British policy regarding the Spanish civil war should be reconsidered. Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Halifax also received a deputation from the National Council of Labour consisting of Mr. Attlee, Dr. Hugh Dalton and Mr. J. Hallsworth, chairman of the T.U.C., asking that action should be taken by the Government to remove the embargo on arms to the Spanish Government.

BOMBING OF BRITISH SHIPS

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24,

Confirmation is still awaited in London of Press reports of attacks during the weekend by Spanish insurgent aircraft on British ships. Four are reported to have been damaged during raids on Barcelona, ami a Lloyds's Agency message'stales that when seven mites off the Coast* the British steamer SLanbrook was attacked from the air on three occasions but received no damage.