“GREAT ITALIAN VICTORY” CLAIMED BY ROME PRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 January 1939, Page 5

“GREAT ITALIAN VICTORY” CLAIMED BY ROME PRESS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) (Received 2 7th January. 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, 26th January. It is officially announced that General Franco’s forces began occupying Barcelona at noon to-day. The city surrendered without fighting. It is estimated that 50,000 citizens swarmed the streets to welcome the conquerors. General Franco’s colours amazingly fluttered from almost every window. Behind the troops followed great convoys of food for the populace. The convoy bore banners, “Franco s justice brings bread for all.’’ General Franco s troops, headed by the Navarrese division, with colours flying and bands playing, marched intq the city and reached the heart of Barcelona. Troops occupied public buildings. Thousands of citizens emerging from places of refuge cheered the soldiers. The rebels first occupied Mount Tibidabo and the hill fort of Montjuich, overlooking the city, after which armoured cars and Navarrese and Moorish divisions moved towards the city along seven routes, accompanied by small detachments of ‘‘Green Arrow’’ and “Black Arrow’’ divisions, including Italians. After the occupation of Barcelona a section of the army continued northward advancing to Badalona, where there is a fairly heavy concentration of Republican troops. A message from Paris states that the last train from Barcelona arrived at Port Bout with 250 women and children. The British destroyer Hostile, the American cruiser Omaha and two British freighters arrived at Marseilles with refugees. Small parties of Republican militiamen are reaching French ports aboard trawlers and other small craft. Nationalist Spain celebrated Barcelona’s fall with a stoppage of work, peals of bells and exultant chants in the belief that the end of the war is visible. Rebel warships arrived in harbour bedecked with National colours. General Franco, whose vanguard is now approaching Barcelona, ordered the compulsory adoption of the Falangist uniform, including blue shirts and red berets. General Franco is making Barcelona the temporary capital. The rebels captured Sabadell and Tarrasa, and are approaching Granollers, on the route to Gcrona, where indescribable congestion prevails. “MAGNIFICENT ITALIAN LEGIONARIES’’ (Received 2 7th January, 10.36 a.m.) ROME, 26th January. Signor Mussolini announced the fall of Barcelona from the balcony of the Palazzo Venezie. “General Franco’s magnificent troops and our own magnificent legionaries have beaten not merely the Negrin Government but others of our enemies, who at this moment bite the dust,” he said. General Franco’s success is hailed as a great Italian victory by Italian newspapers.