OUT OF THE DARKNESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 7

OUT OF THE DARKNESS

UNENDING COLUMN OF TROOPS Catalan Army Enters France DRAMATIC END TO CAMPAIGN [By Telegraph—Frees Association— Copyright] Received Feb. 9, 7.35 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 9. The beginning and end of the Catalan campaign came with a dramatic suddenness, says a special correspondent of the Daily Mail at Bourg-Madame. Last night at ten o’clock there appeared at the frontier out of the darkness a column of infantry marching four abreast, while behind them stretched an unending line of troops. Every available French soldier was hurriedly summoned from the barracks and cafes. The officer leading the column explained that two divisions of the Catalan army were entering France. Thirty-five minutes later 16,000 soldiers, all marching in perfect formation, had crossed the frontier. They were immediately disarmed, great piles of rifles and revolvers rapidly rising on each side of the road. Afterwards the newcomers were conducted to the fields in the open spaces around Bourg-Madame where, within a few minutes, they were lighting fires around which they huddled for warmth in the icy nigh,t air. Nothing now stands between the Nationalist armies and the frontier save a few rearguards and within a few hours General Franco’s troops are expected to make the first contact with France on the Catalan border, from which point they will gradually squeeze the Republicans out of the remaininng Catalan territory down to the sea. The Premier, Dr. Negrin, is still in Spain but only by five yards. He is now installed with other members of the Government in a house on the Spanish side of the main street of LepertKus, says a special correspondent of the Daily Mail on the scene. Dr. Negrin admitted that events were now moving fast but declared that he was determined to be the last Catalan to quit the country.