DECISIVE BATTLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 228, 25 August 1938, Page 11

DECISIVE BATTLE

ON EBRO FRONT. REBELS PUSH FORWARD. DESPERATE FIGHTING. (United Press Association.. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 25, 12.30 p.m. SARAGOSSA, Aug. 24. The Republicans are reported to be crumbling on the Ebro front under the hurricane of insurgent bombs and shells. General Franco’s farces drove down from the heights north-west of Gandesa and claim to have retaken the village of Corbcra; also to have shot down 20 ’planes. Desperate hand-to-hand fighting is proceeding, as it is realised the issue on this front will probably decide the , war. LOYALIST REVERSES. REBELS CLAIM BIG SUCCESSES. BARCELONA, Aug. 24. The Republicans admit, in the face of attacks of massed tanks and aeroplanes, that they have yielded ground on the Estremadura front. A Saragossa message says that the rebels assert that in three days they have captured ten villages, 293 square miles of territory, and 1500 prisoners, and have broken the resistance on the Ebro front, also captured Campillo and San Yicente Pass on the Tagus front. FRENCHMAN SHOT. BY INSURGENT SENTRIES. Received August 25, 11.15 a.m. BAYONNE, Au" 24. Insurgent sentries to-day shot a French swimmer, who was on holiday, in the Bidassoa River on the Fra neo-Spanish frontier, when he was carried by the current to the Spanish bank. BREAD RATION REDUCED. FOR LOYALIST TROOPS. Received August 25, 11.15 a.m. BARCELONA, Aug. 24. The bread ration of 6oz per head thrice weekly has been reduced by a third owing to the bombing of grainladen ships. EXCHANGE" OF -PRISONERS. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS. (British Official Wireless.) Received August 25, 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 24. The British commission for the exchange of prisoners in Spain is due to arrive at its headquarters at Toulouse on August 31. The commission will then await an exchange of proposals from the contending Spanish parties, which are to be submitted through the liaison officers, Mr Cowan and Colonel Moseley, who are already in Barcelona and Burgos respectively.