FRANCO ADVANCES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 48, 12 March 1937, Page 5

FRANCO ADVANCES

— Press Asen.-

Only Nine Miles From Guadalajara MADRID IN DANGER

(By Telesrapb-

— Copsright.)

(Received 12, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. General Franco's advancq guapd is now niu® miles from Guadalajura. The offensive hau adyanqed in. three days over 25 mjles on a nine tq twelve-milq frqnt. The insurgenis claim that jn .one sector yesterday they counted 490 dead Government troops. Among the important points reached by the insurgents is Brihuqga, the keytown to" th© Tajuna Valley, through which they will be able to put the Ouenta road, which, witb th6 V alencia highway, represents Madrid's life-ljne by the coast. The loyalist battalion known ag thq Red Lions is scattered and almost wiped out. Madrid reports that four Italian pfficers and 37 men were cqpturqi during the Guadalajara fighting and arq being Hiterregated at tbe War Qjggq, Fqreign jqurnalists wqre allbwed tq phqb^ gfaph. the qaptured Italia,us. Whqn told there was uo cause for q-lqrm qnq of the prisoners said in Italian : "We are not Fascists," and two qthers gave the Communist closed-fiet salute. The Government forces blew up the school of Agriculture in the University Gity by mines. Hand-to-hand fighting followed in. the rqins.