FURTHER PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 9

FURTHER PROGRESS

REBEL ADVANCE

NEARING GUADALAJARA

KEY TOWN TAKEN

THREAT TO ROAD TO COAST

United Press Association—By Electric Tele

Graph -Copyrlulil. (Received March 12, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, March 11

General Franco's advance guard is now nine miles from Guadalajara. The offensive has advanced in three days over 25 miles on a front of from 9 to 12 miles. The insurgents claim that in one sector yesterday they counted 400 Government dead. A Madrid battalion known as the Red Lions was scattered and almost wiped out. It is reported from Madrid that four Italian officers and 37 men who were captured during the Guadalajara fighting are being interrogated at the War Office. Among important points reached by the insurgents is Brihuega, : the key town to the' Tajuna Vailey, through which they will be able to cut the Cuenca road, which, with the Valencia highway, represents Madrid's lifeline to the coast. Government troops blew up the School of Agriculture in the University City in Madrid by means ,of mines. Hand to hand .fighting followed in the ruins. CAPTURED ITALIANS. It is reported from Madrid that foreign journalists were allowed to photo.graph captured Italians. When told that there was no cause for alarm, one of the prisoners said in Italian, "We are not Fascists." Two others gave the Communist closed fist salute. Christopher St. John Sprigg, aged 28, a well-known British airman and journalist, who went to Spain last December, was killed in fighting with the International Brigade in Madrid. He was the author of a number of flying detective books, and poems. Formerly he was editor of an aviation magazine.