CATALAN FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 9

CATALAN FRONT

REBEL ADVANCE CONTINUES RAIL JUNCTION CAPTURED LOYALISTS RETREATING (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) BURGOS, Jan. 9. Despite fog, the rebels continued to advance on the whole of the Catalan front. They claimed the capture of the Mollerufa road and the rail junction between Lerida and Cercera. The loyalists are retreating to Cercera, dynamiting bridges. Several hundred Moors and Phalangists crossed from Ceuta in response to General Franco’s appeal for reinforcements.

General Franco has issued a decree calling up boys aged 18 for military service. THE SEGRE FRONT LOYALIST DEFENCE COLLAPSES LONDON, Jan. 9. The Hendaye correspondent of The Times says that, though General Franco’s offensive seems to have slackened, it is incontestable that the loyalist front on the Segre has collapsed. The Aragonese, advancing from Balaguer, smashed the strong points of the loyalist defences and took 14 villages in one day, while the southern advance further jeopardises Mont Blanch, compelling constriction of the loyalists’ defences at Tortosa. AIR RAID ON BARCELONA SIX PEOPLE KILLED BARCELONA, Jan. 9. Six people were killed _ and 12 wounded in a bombing raid. Rescuers are searching for additional victims in the extensive ruins.