Barcelona today admitted the loss of Almatret, 25 miles south of Lerida, to "Italian attack." Gen. Franco's headquarters said the Nationalists had advanced on the Ebro River front to Ribbaroja, important gateway to the railway serving Republican strongholds in the heart of Catalonia. Republican forces were admitted to be in possession of the city, but a Nationalist attack was launched last night, according to Nationalist reports.
The fighting front on the southern sector of Gen. Franco's Christmas offensive ran roughly 100 miles—
United Press.
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