IN RETREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 9

IN RETREAT

BROKEN ARMIES NATIONALIST PUSH DRIVEN TOWARD FRANCE BARCELONA OCCUPATION By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received January 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29 The Spanish Nationalists who are marching north from Barcelona are pressing the broken Republican armies toward France, says the Barcelona correspondent of the Times. They have occupied all the villages between Granollers and the coast and secured immense booty. Their medical services are tending thousands of abandoned wounded. The military Governor, General Arenas, broadcast General Franco's promise to respect Catalan aspirations, language and customs if Spanish unity is not threatened. A decree incorporates Catalonia in the state of war throughout Spain. Great strides have been made toward normality in Barcelona. The occupation passed off without incident, the troops maintaining magnificent discipline. A tour of the harbour reveals appalling desolation from bombings and fires.

Prisoners Killed or Tortured Long files of Republican prisoners trudge uphill toward the Mount Juich fortress, pending the separation of the innocent from the guilty.

Republican guards, adds the correspondent, before abandoning Mount Juich, killed a number of. prisoners, including women, whose bodies lie on the hillside. The victors released 500, a number of whom had been tortured and could not rise from their beds. The place reeks with tragedy.

Walls show evidence of where firing squads have executed victims.- The prison, when full, contained 3000 men and women crammed into subterranean dungeons. Many were removed to unknown destinations six. weeks ago. Those sentenced to death were placed in cells with no mattresses and only one blanket each. They were given a dozen boiled beans twice a day. Captive German and Italian airmen remained without food on air raid days. Republicans Resist Attack The Nationalists have taken Organa and Santa Maria de 010, in the Lerida province, and are now menacing Seo de Urgel and Berga, says the Hendaye correspondent of the Times.

Italian airmen bombed Palamos, killing several civilians. An official message from Gerona states that the Republicans heroically repulsed strong attacks east of Solsona and Manresa, inflicting heavy losses. They held their line in the Mataro sector in spite of pressure from four warships, which twice shelled them. One hundred former members of the International Brigade and several thousand refugees were jammed in darkness' in a railway tunnel at Cerbere for 48 hours without food or water, awaiting permission to enter France. Terrible Toll among Refugees Anarchists and Communists control Puigcerda, 55 miles north-west of Gerona, in the Lerida province, which is full of starving refugees, the Republican colonel who was commanding having come to France, says the Perpignan correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Motorists, after travelling from Mataro to Gerona, state that bodies lie on the roadside all the way beside wrecked cars and trucks. Airmen, by bombing and machine-gunning, have taken a terrible toll. The refugees' death roll far exceeds the first estimate of a few hundred. It even eclipses the slaughter when refugees from Malaga fled to Motril. Safety Corridor being Organised Thousands of refugees' camp fires twinkle on the hillsides to-night. Food is being distributed to the refugees. A powerful revolving beacon flashing over Le Perthus is a guide to the refugees and n warning to aviators not to bomb north of that point. The refugee situation is gradually coming under control. A 15-mile safety corridor is being organised subject to General Franco's goodwill. The French Labour Confederation has appealed to Mr. Chamberlain, President Roosevelt and M. Daladier for Britain, America and France to take measures to enable Republican Spain to defend herself, says the Paris correspondent of the British United Press. The French police suppressed proRepublican demonstrations in Paris, says a message from that city. FRANCO'S SUCCESS REACTION IN GERMANY ITALO-FRENCH RELATIONS MEDITERRANEAN PROBLEM LONDON, Jan. 20 The German press devotes columns to the fall of Barcelona, but shows a marked unwillingness to comment on the new situation in the Mediterranean created by General Franco's success, says the Berlin correspondent of the Times

Instead, hopes are expressed that the French Prime Minister, M. Dalndier, will not miss the opportunity of lessening the tension between Franco and Italy—presumably by yielding to tho Italian demands.

There is a concerted endeavour in the Paris press to allay fears of a new crisis, says a message from that city. The newspapers generally are not disposed to believe that the Rome-Berlin axis is preparing to ku.n-h a joint diplomatic offence, Berlin correspondents statingfthat Herr Hitler is little disposed t/6 be involved in the Italian claims in the Mediterranean;

By special fcrrtngeiuent Reuter's world: service, in addition' to other special sources of : information, is used in the compilation of the' oversea intelligence published in this issue,' ami nil rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reser/.-ed. Such of the c&'ble news on this page as is so headed has Appeared in the Times and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the are not those of the Time# unless expressly /Stated to be so.