An oficial communique issued by the Republican authorities states that the Republican forces under General Vincente Rojo successfully repulsed jand throw back the Nationalists' "Christmas offensive which launched along a S0-kilometre front this morning.
The Spanish News Agency, a Ro-publican organ, stated that ihe Na-Uonalists had suffered heavy losses on the opening day of the big offensive, which was claimed to have falled 10 make any permanent gains.
'The main attack, according to the news agency, was delivered in the 'Tromp and Seros sectors, after' most intensive artillery preparations, "The Nationalists succeeded in occupying Republican positions at Vertice and Sarragosa, but they were Immediate ly dislodged by a fierce Republican counter-attack, suffering important losses in prisoner and war materials which were captured by the Republicans. At all other points the Nationalists were stated to have been driven tack after making slight initial gains.
The prisoners captured by the Republicans included members of the Mahan "Black Flame" and "March 23rd" Divisions. Thus for the first "ime since the great Italian defeat on the Guadalajara front the Nationalist General Staff has started an offensive by throwing a tremendous weight of allan troops and ermaments against the Republicens, it was pointed out. United Press. nation, both armed end political penetration being included—United Press, Czech Communist Party
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