1939-01-27 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 27, 1989

FRANCO'S

Page

TRIUMPHAL

MARCH INTO BARCELONA Loyalist Failure To Resist Surprises Foreigners

Inhabitants All Ready With Falangist Songs

Barcelona, To-day.

One of Reuter's special correspondents who enter- ed Barcelona at noon yesterday with General Franco's forces, states that complete invest- ment of the Republican capital was accom- plished during the night, the city being sur- rounded on all sides by land. ·

Navarrese troops began the march into the city at

noon.

As they marched triumphantly through the streets,

500,000 people appeared cheering wildly.

NEW LOYALIST HEADQUARTERS

Paris, To-day.

According to a telegram from Le Perthus, at the west- ern end of the Franco-Spanish frontier, the Spanish Govern- ment has set up new head- quarters at Figueras, 20 miles from the frontier-Reuter.

Every window and balcony flew Nationalist flags FRENCH BORDER

of red and gold.

of

PRECAUTIONS

Paris, To-day.

Falangist songs and slogans his troops to enter Barcelona after were on the lips of all, indicating having made quite sure that their that these had been learned se-positions around the capital were cretly during the past few months. perfectly secure.

Following the Navarrese troops At midnight the Moroccan corps, came the Italian Arrow Division under the personal command

The French authorities on the and the Spanish Foreign Legion. General Yague, began

Pyrenean frontier are taking, on FOREIGNERS SURPRISED

storming Fort Montjuich immediately south instructions from Paris, measures Foreign observers were surpris-of the harbour, taking it at dawn to cope with the situation which ed at the suddenness of the de-on Thursday. velopment, as only the previous At the last moment, the loyalists pact units of the Spanish Repub- would arise in the event of com- night, two trade union organisa-tried to blow up the powder maga- tions had declared their determin-zine but were prevented from coing lican Army crossing over ration to fight from street to street so. The Moroccan troops then oc- French territory.

and from house to house.

Many members of the city's anti- Barcelona, Other columns of Gen- cupied the western cemetery of aircraft units have arrived

in eral Yague advancing from the troops and mobile guards in the

west, smashed their way into Vall-region of Perpignan driwiera suburb from where the tramline leads into Barcelona city.

-Trans-Ocean.

trawlers at French porta.

FOREIGNERS IN DANGER British, French and American nationals were embarked on ships at a point 20 miles north of Barcelona.

war-

The area was heavily bombed by Nationalist planes while the war- ships were taking them off, says one report, and it is alleged that one ship, believed to be French, fired twelve rounds at a bomber which flew menacingly overhead, though the British Admiralty say they have no knowledge of these reports.

STREETS DENSELY PACKED

Burgos reports stated that there were no Republican military for- mations left in the city. After the Nationalist troops had occupied the heights dominating Barcelona in the early hours of yesterday morn- Ing, the Moroccan Army Corps ad- vanced from Monjuich, the Navar- rese from Valvidriera and Tibidabo, and the volunteer corpa from Ras- assada.

M

by

of

ré.

The streets were densely packed with spectators whe greeted the Nationalist columns with the Fas- cist salute. The break-up of the Barcelona front was hastened the almost complete absence trained professional officers in the Republican ranks. The demoralisa- tion of the Republican forces sulting from the swift enemy ad- vance could be inferred from the fact that whereas in sectors to the rear bridges and roads had been systema- tically blown up practically—no attempt to bar the way to the Na- tionalist troops was made in the neighbourhood of Barcelona.- ter and Trans-Ocean.

•

FRANCO CELEBRATION

Barcelona, To-day. Units of the Nationalist Acet are steaming into Barcelona har- bour dressed overall with the Na- tionalist colours.

General Franco's seroplanes are performing aerobatics.

Close behind, the Nationalist co- lumns entering Barcelona rumbled convoys of trucks filled with food to feed the hungry thousands.

The trucks were surmounted by banners Inscribed "Franco's Jus tice. Bread for All”

into

SABADELL HOLDS UNTIL NEWS OF FALL OF BARCELONA

Saragossa, To-day. Simultaneously with the entry into Barcelona of General Franco's troops, the town of Sabadell, with thirty thousand inhabitants, was occupied by Navarrese columns.

The latter, however, did not re- main in the town but continued their advance towards the main road and railways from Barcelona to Puigcerda which at two o'clock in the afternoon were within the range of fire of the Nationalist batteries so that the road' along the coast is now alone open to the Republican troops retreating from Barcelona. Trans-Ocean.

NEW SEAT OF LOYALIST GOVT.

It is expected that Senegalese NOT SETTLED

reinforced.

will be

Re- Henry

Paris, To-day. All soldiers who come to France publican Spain, M. Jules

The French Ambassador to will immediately be disarmed and who has arrived aboard a French placed under supervision.

warship at Port Vendres, will after French press correspondents on go by car

a visit to the Prefect at Perpignan, the Spanish border opine that the Northern

Figueras in There he measures taken by the French will have a conversation with Government will prove

the Republican Foreign Minis- ter; Senor del Vayo, regarding the new domicile of the French Em-

Bary...

unneces-

to Catalonia.

It is, however, pointed out that bassy, which is still unsettled. The the problem of the flight of the new seat of the Government is not Spanish civilian population re- yet definitely decided upon. The mains and that an. exodus of Premier, Senor Negrin, is at pre- civilians on a large scale can be sent in Junguera near the French reckoned with. - Trans-Ocean. border.-Trans-Ocean.

The stations were protected by AMBASSADOR CABALLERO WITH

police.

Meanwhile, says a Burgos des- ON CRUISER

patch, the advance on the entire Catalan front is proceeding with rapidity.

In Estremadura, where the Re- publicans launched an attack in the hope of saving Barcelona, the Na- tionalists claim to be advancing and to be dispersing many loyal- ist concentrations.

At Valenquillo and Los Blas- quez, the Republicans made a final attack, but the Nationalists coun- ter-attacked and recovered all the lost ground.

The towns of Larabasad and Horta, near Barcelona, have also fallen-Reuter.

FRANCO GAINS

Nationalist

London, To-day.

Mr. Ralph Stevenson, the British Minister ip Barcelona, is оп the cruiser Devonshire standing

off Caldetas.

Refugees. in large numbers have

FUGITIVES IN FRANCE

Perpignan, To-day...

Senor Largo Caballero, former

fled north from Barcelona and their Premier of Spain, was among the fate is known to be an urgent pre- prominent. occupation of both the French and crossed into France yesterday.

Republicans - who British Governments.

Two thousand refugees are to be

One proposal which is believed fed into France-to-day-

|-be-under-consideration is the estab- lishment of zone for refugees,on, the

Bilbao, To-day.

Foreign Minister, Senor del headquarters, an-

Spanish frontier with Franco.- Vayo, arrived at Perthus yesterday Reu-nounce that Franco's troops in the

38 days of their Catalan offensive, ambassadors called at the Foreign

Both the French and Spanish en route to Figueras, captured. 180 kilometres of the Office yesterday and it is probable Catalonia, with a few members of Senor Companys, President of coastline and 150 kilometres of the that the Spanish refugee problem the Republican Government, is be- British lieved to be at Olot, near Figueres.

-Reuter.

CAUTIOUS ENTRY

Saragossa, To-day

It is revealed by official despat-front from Lerida to Barcelona, was under discussion. ches that General Franco ordered 'Trans-Ocean.

Wireless.