Republican defences along the 125- mile Catalan front were crumbling to-day as General Miguel Aranda, Nationalist leader, led his victorious troops into the maritime province of Castellon. Republican troops, with their defences shattered by continuous bombing and artillery bombardment, were reported In hasty retreat before hard driving Moroccan motorized and cavalry units which were bouring a large part of the Nationalist offensive, 'A hundred Nationalist planes aided the powerful cavalry and motorized units sweeping toward the sea in an attempt to isolate Barcelona from Valencia and Madrid, Nationalist columns which encountered Republican resistance deployed fur hasty grenade attacks and signal-_ for aerial assistance if unable to break through the Republican lines. Nationalist planes in many sectors Llusted broad paths through the Republican lines, permitting the Nationalist and forces to advance before the Republicans could reform their shattered lines.
The Nationalists also broke through the front south-east of Cuspe, cross jed the Guadalope River and were driving toward Gandeso. _Nationalists claimed the Repubifcon lines wore breaking at many points.
Republican leaders frantically sought {0 put into effect orders for the mobilization of the entire civi-lion population of Catalonia. -Although union workers joined in the battles and hastily erected secondary defence lines behind the Republican front, Republican leaders found in-
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