REBEL FORCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 16 January 1939, Page 5

REBEL FORCES

HALF-WAY TO BARCELONA FULL CONTROL OF RIVER EBRO MANY VILLAGES CAPTURED U.P.A.—By Electric Telegraph-Copyrisrhtl (Received 16th January, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, 15th January. General Franco’s forces yesterday entered Barcelona province after capturing Mount Codum Alcovcr en route to Tarragona. Reuter’s special correspondent in Lerida says that the Nationalist troops, advancing after the fail of Tortosa, have reached the set at the village of Atmella.

The Nationalists claim to be now within shellshot of Tarragona. They state that they are in control of the whole of the River Ebro and have captured 24 villages, in addition to Tortosa and Atmella. They are now more than halfway to Barcelona from the starting point of their offensive and command all the main roads converging on Tarragona. The Nationalists declare that the Republican General Miaja’s attempt to raise the siege of Madrid and also to t elieve the pressure on Catalonia was repulsed after the infliction of heavy losses and the capture of six Russian tanks. ESTREMADURA ATTACKS Nationalist leaders ridicule the claim by the republicans that their attacks on the Estremadura front are effectively countering the Catalan push. It is reported from Barcelona that the response to the calling up of new classes is satisfactory. Conscripts are streaming into Barcelona, some being accompanied by their wives and children. pf mphlets are being showered on the streets urging the utmost efforts to defeat the rebels by participation in the glorious “battle of heroes.” They recall that children 11 years old fought against Napoleon whom their firm resistance defeated. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” reports that it is officially announced that Italian casualties in the Catalan offensive between 23rd December and Ist January were: Killed, 27 officers and 217 men; wounded, 141 officers and 1160 men; missing, 1 officer and 29 men. EXCHANGE OF AGENTS BRUSSELS, 14th January. Arrangements have been completed for an exchange of agents with General Franco. TARRAGONA OCCUPIED BY franco LERIDA, 15th January. General Franco has completely occupied Tarragona, Reus, and Tarrega. FRONTIER RAILWAY CLOSED BARCELONA, 15th January. The Toulouse railway on the Span-ish-Andorran frontier is closed. BITTER FIGHTING (Received 16th January, 10.20 a.m.) BURGOS, 15th January. Advancing from Vails, where there was bitter fighting, Navarrese troops occupied the first houses of the West side of Tarragona, having covered thirteen miles of road from Vails in 24 hours. Nationalists also cut the Tarra-gona-Barcelona road six miles east of Tarragona.