FIGHT TO DEATH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1939, Page 5

FIGHT TO DEATH

SPANISH MINISTER CALLS FOR SUPREME EFFORT HOUR OF CRISIS REACHED. GENERAL MOBILISATION URGED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. BARCELONA, January 7. “Fight to the death. The hour has come for a supreme effort,” declares Senor Comorera, Catalan Minister of Economy, urging general mobilisation and the dispatch of all the armed forces to the front. JOSE LUIS DIEZ CREW TO BE REPATRIATED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. GIBRALTAR, January 8. The ship’s company of the damaged loyalist destroyer Jose Luis Diez will be repatriated either to loyalist or rebel Spain as desired. When the offer was made known to them they shouted as one man “Death to the traitor Franco and his foreign invaders.” REBEL CLAIMS GAIN OF 1200 SQUARE MILES OF TERRITORY. TROOPS WITHIN 55 MILES OF BARCELONA. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) SARAGOSSA, January 8. The Nationalists now claim conquest of 1200 square miles of territory in their Catalan offensive, and the capture of 30,000 prisoners. They also claim to have advanced in the south to within 55 miles of Barcelona. TRENCH SYSTEM TAKEN ROUND IMPORTANT BRIDGEHEAD. LOYALISTS DYNAMITE VILLAGES. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) BURGOS, January 8. The rebels have completed the destruction of a trench system over eight miles long around Balageur bridgehead. The loyalists dynamited five villages before evacuation.

THREAT TO TARRAGONA. PREPARATIONS FOR INTENSIVE BOMBARDMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PARIS, January 8. The Nationalist News Agency states that the rebels have already mapped out Tarragona in preparation for an aerial and naval bombardment. LOYALISTS TAKE TOWN. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) BARCELONA, January 8. The loyalists have captured the important town of Fuente Ovejuna, 50 miles north-west of Cordova. REPORT OF COMMISSION. MANY NON-MILITARY TOWNS BOMBED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. GENEVA, January 8. The League of Nations has published the report of the Bombing Inquiry Commission from Spain which reiterates that many towns attacked, notably Tarragona, did not contain military objectives. The commission urges that this magnificent old town with its historic cathedral should not be damaged any more.