Lerida Is Still Unsubdued

Northern Advocate, 1 April 1938, Page 6

Lerida Is Still Unsubdued

[United Press Association. —Py Flectrii Telearavh.—Covyngh t. 3 (Received 2.15 p.m.) LONDON. March 31,

Lerida, although surrounded on three sides, says a Barcelona message, is still unsubdued. Despite heavy shelling. accompanied by fierce fighting in the adjacent countryside, the Rebel front runs in two straight lines from Jaca to Lerida. and from Lerida to Teruel, aggregating 220 miles. The Rebels report the capture of an international battalion, consisting of British officers and men. Moroccans Near Lerida. General Franco’s Moroccan troops have fought their way to within two miles of Lerida, whore heavy machinegun and rifle fire from the outskirts of the town have checked their advance, says the “Daily Telegraph s correspondent. There has been a, noticeable , stiffening of the Republican resistance, Aeroplanes are more active

" in; supporting’ the infantry. ■i The Insurgents are pushing their advance in other sectors. The Government forces are reported to be retreating from Gandesa. The Republicans claim that their offensive in the south, in which a cavalry charge followed an extensive bombardment and aerial bombing, drove the Insurgents from important positions on the border of the provinces' of Cordoba and Jaen,

Thousands of Loyalist soldiers and civilians are fleeing from the war zone and have arrived at Perpignan after terrible hardships in the Pyrenees. It is feared that many have succumbed on the snowclad mountains.