Rebel Advance Halted On Outskirts Of Capital

Northern Advocate, 24 January 1939, Page 7

Rebel Advance Halted On Outskirts Of Capital

(Received 2.30 p.m.)

LONDON, January 23. T OYALIST COMMUNIQUES CLAIM THAT THE LOYALISTS HAVE HALTED THE REBEL ADVANCE ON THE LERIDA ROAD AT CASTELLOLI, WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO CLIMB A STEEP PATH. They inflicted heavy losses. Italian shock troops were also defeated in attempts to advance from Sitges. The Rebels have three times bombed Barcelona from the %ir since midnight. 1 Most of the bombs fell in the water in the port area. They bombed the British vessel Thorpe Bay, killing Mr William McLennan, the second mate, and a Greek messboy.

The British United Press Barcelona correspondent reports that the Cabinet, after a night long sitting, declared a “state of war” throughout Loyalist territory and appointed a commission to organise the evacuation of civilians affected By the building of fortifications and defence works. It was also announced that the Go vernment was remaining at Barcelona

Women Help Dig Trenches,

Civilian workers today marched to the outskirts of the city to dig trenches and raise .barricades..

Battalions of women of all ages and occupations assisted, but they were forced to take cover when Rebel bombers came over trying to destroy the defence works before they were even completed. . A few women were wounded as the planes machine-gunned the trenches, but as soon as the danger was past others resumed the digging. Americans throughout Catalonia have been ordered to be prepared to evacuate. The consul general, Mr Douglas Flood, sent a wireless message to the cruiser Omaha, visiting Ville Tranche, to proceed immediately to Caldetas, 20 miles north of Barcelona, and take aboard 30 people. Foreigners Evacuating City. A British Official Wireless message states’ it is understood that in the light of the military situation around Barcelona, the British minister, as a precautionary measure, made the necessary preliminary arrangements for the evacuation of members of the British embassy staff, as well as any others of the 200 British subjects who may wish to leave.

The cruiser Devonshire and the destroyer Greyhound are in the vicinity. No decision on the evacuation has been taken, and arrangements are of a precautionary character only.