Madrid, July 21.
Destruction stalked the central front less than a score of miles from Madrid yesterday, as the National-pushed their way through the Republican lines between Brunete and Villa Nueva de la Canada both of which were reduced to a mass of smouldering wreckage, In face of combined fire of aviation and artillery, the Republicans put up a valiant fight, but were obliged to fold back on their second lines, where some of the most despera fighting of the war now rages. Men fell by hundreds on both sides, and operations were carried on under a hail of lead over territory made desolate and seamed with shell holes.
After three days of terrific counter-offensive by the Nationalists, the front now extends from Naval Gamella, south-west of the Republican base at Val de Morillo, to Perales, ten kilometres south-west of Brunete.
On the Arragon front, the Nationalist pressure continues intense.—
Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.