CULMINATING POINT REACHED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 23 January 1939, Page 7

CULMINATING POINT REACHED

CONTINUOUS BOMBING RAIDS i LOYALISTS RETREATING ALL ALONG THE LINE | U.P.A.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright! LONDON, 21st January. The Republicans admit that their troops are retreating along the entire Catalonian front, says the Barcelona correspondent of Reuter's. A Burgos message states that General Franco, addressing the War Council, claimed that the offensive had now reached the culminating point. Continuous bombing raids on Barcelona and environs killed 45 and wounded 70. A message from Perpignan states that 27 wagons of French wheat, and flour for the Republicans crossed the frontier to-day. This is the first consignment since the Government’s decision to send 45,000 tons. Further consignments are being speeded up. A message from Lerida states that as a result of an eight-mile lightning advance, Navarrese troops captured Villa Franca del Panades, 10 miles from Barcelona, and now threaten Nanresa. A message from Barcelona states that General Rojo, chief of the republican staff, in a nation-wide broadcast, emphasised that the Spaniards were commonly inspired with a desire to supersede the ancient corrupt regime by something better and to redeem the country, yet they were killing one another mainly for the benefit of foreigners who would profit from Spain’s enfeeblement. It was time for strife to cease. He was not appealing for magnanimity or pardon because liberty would triumph in the end. The war would continue in spite of victory t>y one side or the other till the truth was recognised that Spain must be independent. He begged for a little understanding and patriotism to end Spain’s Calvary.