'While observers on both sides, in Spain, agree on the fierce intensity the fighting ona front of nearly 400 miles, the accounts, from respec tive headquarters, of the progress of the barile, continue to be widely Givergent. General Franco's "head-guarrers claim successes on the whole of Catalonia's "western "borders, While the Republican side declare that their main defences on the hills remain untouched.
They admit, however, that the flat terrain, on which mest of the fghting hag so for taken place, has favoured the mechanical superiority of the Nationalists, dispatch from Barcelona adds that, "indeed, the resistance of the Republican new model army is be-Heved there to be proving most heusting to the Nationalists, and inspiring the utmost confidence in the Republican rear.—Reuter, Madrla Bombarded for Five Hours Madrid, Dec. 30.
Five persons were killed, and a lturther thirty wounded, in a continu: fous bombardment of the city from pam. yesterday until morning. The south was affected the most by the bomb-
Counter-Attack Barcelona, Dec. 31, Republicans launched "a strong counter-attack south of Lerida threatening the rear of the Italian divisions, and. are now attacking Borjas Blancas, The counter-attack, which began yesterday morning at 10.30 o'elork, south of Lerida, is moving parallel with the Segre River in the direction of Sarroca, a key road junction less than three miles from the. Republican front line, Sarroca falls, the Republicans will control. communications behind the Italian divisions, now thrusting: towards Borjas Blancas, and. which, to Republica accounts, are inger of isolation. Com munications in the rea are in favour Of the Republicans, whose right flank {is protected by defences along the Segre River and the Lake, "The Nationalists are exposed counter-attack from the direction of Granadella, and the Republicans have strong position on the other flank of the Notionalist salient—Reuter, Natlonaliste st Gains Saragossa, Dee. 31.
was admitted here that the Republicans had counter-attacked strongly in all the southern sectors yesterday, using militiamen drawn from the reserves, who had been held end "Borjas Blancas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.