REPORTS IN CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1939, Page 6

REPORTS IN CONFLICT

SPANISH REBEL DRIVE IN CATALONIA CONTINUED. SUCCESS CLAIMED. REPUBLICAN DENIALS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) BURGOS, January 3. The Nationalists claim that they have reached the right bank of the Segre River, within rifle-range of Artesa, the fall of which is stated to be imminent. The retreating Republicans blew up the Segre bridges. It is admitted that the Republican forces are still holding up the legionaries, who have been almost stationary for the last four days, on the Alfes Cogull Line. General Franco’s forces claim that they have reached a position in the extreme south dominating the road leading from Reus, near Tarragona. They finally claim that since the offensive began they have occupied 494 square miles of territory, captured over 16,200 prisoners and brought down eighty Republican planes. Barcelona admits the insurgent gains in the south but claims that the attackers are now held up in a difficult, hilly terrain. It is estimated that the. Nationalists have a total of six hundred planes along the Segre front. *•.