FRANCO’S OFFENSIVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 November 1937, Page 8

FRANCO’S OFFENSIVE

START EXPECTED ANY MOMENT STRUGGLE TO THE DEATH 700,1KK) TROOPS TO PARTICIPATE | United Press A shim-in I iuii H.V Fleet rio I'elegrtiph—Copyright I (Received 13th November. 9.0 a.m.) BURGOS, 12lh November. Republicans and insurgents totalling ! 700,000 will lie locked in a struggle io the death in General Fnmeo’s great offensive, which is expected to begin at any moment. General Franco will licr.sona.lly direct his forces. There is considerable activity along the? whole line from the Pyrenees ti Toledo. The Republicans are carrying out raids with bombers and mechanised units. ! The Government claims to have j driven hack the insurgents in disorder from their positions at Ellano, in Aragon. Many of the enemy abandoned their arms and evacuated an important i hill. The insurgents, however, captured : several trendies near Barbaslro. REPORTS OF ARMISTICE EMPHATICALLY DENIED BY GOVERNMENT VALENCIA, lllh November. Reports that the Government is seeking an armistice arc emphatically denied. ITALIAN DESTROYERS FOR REBELS PARIS, 11th November. Senor Juan March, General Franco’: millionaire backer, is negotiating the purchase of two Italian 1500-ton destroyers for the insurgents. INSURGENTS DRIVEN BACK CLAIM BY GOVERNMENT BARCELONA, 11th November. The Government claims to have driven back the insurgents in disordci from their positions at Ellano, in the Aragon. Many of Hie enemy aban- | cloned their arms and evacuated ar i important hill. j The insurgents, however, caplurcc | several trenches near Barbaslro. BRUNO MUSSOLINI TO RETURN HOME ROME, 11th November. | Bruno Mussolini is expected to retun | from Spain soon. He wrote a leltci jto friends from Majorca saying Ilia he was disgusted with instruction: j from his superiors, acting on order: ; front Rome, that he was not allowec ; to take risks. i COUNCIL OF SI’ORT APPOINTED | BARCELONA, lllh November. While the troops at the front arc digging trenches and fortifying positions in an effort to survive the darl days which are looming ahead, thi Government announces the appointj ment of a council to promote physica culture and sport throughout the Re public.. NON-INTERVENTION SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING CALLED FOR TUESDAY [British Ollieial Wireless] (Received 13th November, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, 12th November. A meeting of tiie Non-Intcrventioi sub-committee will be called for Tues day to receive reports of technical ex ports who have been working on vari ous questions in connection with pro pesals adopted by tiie Non-Interventioi Committee at the last meeting. ANTI-PIRACY PATROL (Received 13th November, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, 12th November. Arrangements were concluded a Paris for a conference of naval expert: in September, whereby the Ilaliai Navy is associated with the British anc French navies in the anti-piracy patro in the Mediterranean put into forci yesterday. THEIR MAJESTIES WEEK-END GUESTS OF QUEEN’S BROTHER [British Official Wireless] (Received 13th November, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, 12th November. Their Majesties will spend the week end as guests of tiie Queen’s brother the Hon. David Bowcs-Lyon, in Hert fordshire