The main body of the Republican army in Catalonia began a mass retreat at dawn today when the barriers lon the French border were opened. Thousands of Republican troops, carrying and dragging war materials, started to evacuate Puigcerda at 11.30 pin. yesterday.
Heavy artillery and guns crews were the first to enter France, The evacuation began with fifteen battalions leaving Puigcerda. They had 45 guns. Crews of ten men accompanied each of the guns which were towed by heavy trucks. They entered France on the Llivia national road and the Tour de Carol highway, one mile east óf Bourgmadame. The men were disarmed and were taken with guns and trucks to a special enclosure under guard. The evacuation of artillery end munitions required most the whole night. The infantry started to follow at dawn today.
Twenty-six thousand men were estimated to be lined up on the roads between Figueras and Lo Perthus nwetinr entry into France. Eight etmoured cars crossed the border and the men surrendered to French border petrols who dismayed them.
Ten thousand Republican soldiers were -disarmed this morning and marched from Lo Perthus to Argeles, where a huge concentration camp has been established.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.