Loyalists Say War is Not Ended

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1938, Page 7

Loyalists Say War is Not Ended

(Receivoc. 3 p.m.) LONDON. April 20. A Madrid despatch says the Loyalists are Indignantly denying Genei Franco’s statement that the war is near an end. They claim that they are Tepulsing the insurgents a'; various points on , the Pyrenees sector, and have captured two villages and checked the fall of the cathedral town of Seodeurgel. The Governor of Almeida bitterly protested against the bombing with incendiary bombs on three sides of the hospital for Britons and Americans. The Burgos correspondent of “The Times” says a furious battle Is raging in Tortosa, which is; blazing under artillery five. The Loyalists, despite desperate resistance, were unable to hold the rebels’ right flank, but established defences on the left bank of the Ebro, abandoning much material. The insurgents surrounded 20.C00 Loyalists in the mountains to the south-west of Ebro, whom cavalry and tanks are rounding up. The Barcelona representative of “The Times” says the Government troops are defending Catalonia, and have established a strong line behind the Ebro. They counter-attacked, and stopped the insurgents' advance. The British Consul-General has appealed to the British colony of 280 in Catalonia to pack up and leave before Friday.