THE WAR IN SPAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1938, Page 7

THE WAR IN SPAIN

REBELS ANTICIPATING SURRENDER OF BARCELONA

Possibility of an Armistice

TORTOSA ENTERED

VITAL ROAD AND RAILWAY LINK GENERAL FRANCO’S PLANS AND HOPES. LOOKING TO THE MODERATE CATALANS. LONDON, April 5. It is reported from Saragossa that , the Nationalists have entered Tortosa, the Republican seaplane base near the mouth of the Ebro, through which run the last road and railway communications linking Barcelona with Valencia. General Franco has issued orders not to bomb or shell Barcelona at present. He hopes to isolate the city, enabling the moderate Catalans to take over and invite him to maintain order, involving unconditional surrender. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Lerida correspondent says that with the capture of Lerida General Franco is master of 36 of Spain’s 50 provincial capitals.

The British United Press correspondent at Barcelona says the Republican Government is being reorganised, Senor Negrin taking over the Ministry of Defence in addition to the Premiership and the Ministry of Finance. The Republicans holding positions east of Lerida repulsed insurgent atGovernment forces, continuing the offensive in Guadalajara, captured Mocasilla. Cavalry advanced several miles, capturing the slopes of Valdalagua. , x , A Madrid message states that the Nationalists captured Morelia, commanding the road to the Mediterranean, after a 14-mile advance over a 4000-feet pass, taking a thousand prisoners. The third mechanised column, which captured Gandesa, has occupied Mora, on the Ebro, 20 miles from the coast. The Perpignan correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says he has learned on reliable authority that the Republican Government is preoccupied with preventing further slaughter and destruction in Catalonia, and that accordingly reports of the possibility of an armistice probably possess substance, as further resistance is becoming out of the question. Well-informed quarters believe that the war will be finished by the end of April.

FRANCO'S AGENT. GIVEN NO DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN BRITAIN. (British Official Wireles..) RUGBY, April 4. Answering questions in the House of Commons regarding the status of the Duke of Alba and Berwick in Britain, the Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr R. A. Butler, stated that diplomatic status had not been conceded to the Duke of Alba as General Franco’s representative in Britain any more than to Sir Robert Hodgson, the British agent in Nationalist Spain. But as it had been necessary to secure certain privileges for Sir Robert Hodgson and his staff, so privileges had been con-> ceded in London to the Duke of Alba. Such concessions involved no admission of diplomatic status on either side. Referring to the proposed appointment of a British arbitrator for the exchange of 'Spanish prisoners, Mr Butler said Sir Philip Chetwode would take up his duties as soon as the Spam ish Government’s reply had been received. An affirmative answer had already been received from General Franco's administration.

BRITISH IN BARCELONA. ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. RUGBY, April 4. The commander of H.M.S. Hood, which is at Barcelona, will discuss with the British authorities there the question of the safety of British nationals and will arrange for their early evacuation should the necessity arise. ■ “SPAIN FOR THE SPANISH.” ITALY’S ALLEGED FORMULA. ROME, April 5. “With the approaching end of the war in Spain, the Spanish question will be solved according to the Italian formula—Spain for the Spanish,” declares the publicist, Signor Gayda, in a Government-inspired article in the “Giornale a’ltalia.” He adds that thisxformula promises “tranquility in Spain.” The credit for the fall of. Lerida is largely given to'ltalian troops.