BARCELONA IN PERIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 January 1939, Page 6

BARCELONA IN PERIL

THE SPANISH INSURGENT OFFENSIVE

TARRAGONA NOW WITHIN ARTILLERY RANGE.

UTMOST EFFORTS DEMANDED BY LOYA LISTS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, January 15.

General Franco’s forces yesterday entered Barcelona province after capturing' Mount Codom Alcover en route to Tarragona.

Reuter's special correspondent in Lerida says that the Nationalist troops, advancing after the fall of Tortosa, have reached the sea at the village of Atmella. The Nationalists claim to be now within shellshot of Tarragona. They state that they are in control of the whole of the River Ebro and have captured 24 villages, in addition to Tortosa and Atmella. The Nationalists declare that the Republican General Miaja's attempt to raise the siege of Madrid and also to relieve the pressure on Catalonia was repulsed after the infliction of heavy losses and the capture of six Russian tanks.

Pamphlets are being showered on the streets in Barcelona urging the utmost efforts to defeat the rebels by participation in the glorious “battle of heroes." They recall that children 11 years old fought, against Napoleon whom their firm resistance defeated. The Rome correspondent of “The Times’ 'reports that it is officially announced that Italian casualties in the Catalan offensive, between December 23 and January 1 were: Killed. 27 officers and 217 men; wounded, 141 officers and 1160 men; missing, 1 officer and 29 men.

TARRAGONA TAKEN COMPLETELY OCCUPIED BY REBELS. OTHER TOWNS SHARE SAME FATE. (Received This Day. 12.35 p.m.) LERIDA, January 15. General Franco has completely occupied Tarragona, Reus and Tarrega. A Barcelona message states that the Spanish-Andorran frontier has been closed. INSURGENT GAINS ANTICIPATION OF DECISIVE victory. OPERATIONS X OF NORTHERN COLUMN. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, January. 15. The “Daily Telegraph's” Hendaye correspondent says that though the capture of Tarragona. Reus and Tarrega gives the invaders ample supplies of textiles, rice and oil. it is not as important as the operations of General Franco's northern column, now 35 miles from Barcelona, which threaten the loyalist fortifications behind Tarrega. and promise to expedite the advance to Igualada and Barcelona. General Franco is so convinced that this offensive will be decisive, that, he has refused to divert further troops to Estremadura front.

EXCHANGE OF AGENTS. ACTION EY BELGIUM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. BRUSSELS, January 14. Arrangements have been completed for aii exchange of agents with General Franco.