FIGHTING ON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1939, Page 7

FIGHTING ON

SPANISH LOYALISTS STILL DEFIANT

RESERVES REACH CATALONIA.

BROADCAST BY SENOR NEGRIN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, January 28.

A loyalist communique asserts tljat the Republicans are tenaciously resisting enemy' pressure on the Catalan front and essential withdrawals to rectify the line have been carried but orderly.

The Premier. Senor Negrin. broadcasting, said that, thought Spain was experiencing the most difficult phase of the war, the enemy's hopes that the Republic would collapse when Barcelona fell were destined to be frustrated. He emphasised the decision to fight on, declaring that reserves of troops and material had arrived in Catalonia from the centre of Spain Senor Negrin added that a spirit of sacrifice would ensure victory.

The "Daily Telegraph's” correspondent at Perpignan says that Valencia and Madrid are so well fortified that they are unlikely to be taken by assault but that they will be untenable without arms and ammunition, of which there is a grave lack. A message from Barcelona states that no further serious resistance is expected from the loyalist armies in Catalonia owing to lack of guns and munitions and because of the semi-star-vation of the men.

A statement from the Spanish Embassy in London points out that the Republicans possess an army of approximately 700.000 men, govern 10,000.000 people,and hold eleven capitals and important ports. A nationalist communique issued'in Salamanca declares that the Republicans abandoned at Barcelona 70 guns, 100 machine guns, and 15,000,000 litres of petrol in underground tanks. A chest is reported to have been unearthed at Senor Negrin’s palace which contained millions of foreign coins, a number of necklaces and other jewels, and two crowns, one of which is be-1 lieved to belong to the Virgin of the | Sanctuary in Toledo. • / “SUPERB VICTORY” SIGNOR MUSSOLINI TELEGRAPHS; CONGRATULATIONS.

GENERAL FRANCO'S REPLY.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, January 28.

Signor Mussolini has telegraphed to General Franco emphasising Italy’s enthusiasm at the “superb victory in Barcelona," and anticipating an early completion of the conquest and new era for Spain.

General Franco, replying, paid a tribute to the “magnificent Blackshirts, who, with their Spanish comrades, wrote a glorious page against international Communism." ADVANCE CONTINUES REBELS CAPTURE CALDETAS. CORDON ROUND GRANOLLERS. BURGOS. January 29. Rebels have captured Caldetas vyhere he foreign embassies are situated, also he entire coastline between Barcelona md Ai'onys del Mar. They have placed i cordon round Granollers.

The police are replacing troops going to the front from Barcelona, where the food problem is being solved satisfactorily. POURING INTO FRANCE •THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES. CROSS FRONTIER.' MEN OF MILITARY AGE ' TURNED BACK. PERPIGNAN. January 29. Between 12,000 and 15.000 refugees have crossed into France. Thousands, mostly women and children. are wounded. Soldiers are massing on the frontier stretch between La Junqucra and Leperthus. Two columns of retreating loyalist troops of 6000 men each are approaching Pratsdemollo. One thousand refugees. including 200 militiamen, whom the authorities disarmed, have en-

'.rained from Leperthus for the interior of France. In accordance with the French Government’s orders, all Spaniards of military age. and not only troops who have crossed the frontier, will be sent back to Spain if they are not wounded. Some resisted while they were being taken from the trains, compelling the Mobile' Guards to use force.