Worn Republican Defenders ' Stand Fast Facing Odds Hendaye, Jan. 10.
One of the most bitter battles of the entire Nationalist "end the war" offensive against Catalonia raged today at Prades Pass as Republican forces. battered and worn, repeatedly repulsed Nationalist efforts to break through the Sierras where these open en plains leading to the Mediterranean. The Republicans entrenched themselves in strong positions in the foothills, with their flanks in the rocky mountains dominating the theatre of war. i Bitter hand-to-hand battles were reported to be in progress for possession of the strategic pass while Republican artillery batteries on the mountain-sides bombarded the attacking forces of General Francisco Franco. Nationalist planes strafed Republican trenches and attempted to bomb Republican artillery emplacements.
Gen. Franco's headquarters at Burgos claimed important gains in the Lerida sector after Nationalist troops ere reported to have occupied Mollerusa, an important highway and railway center, twenty miles east of Lerida.
Five tri-motor Nationalist planes braved Republican anti-aircraft guns lat Barcelona, the main objective of the Catalonian drive, and dropped dozens of bombs on the port area in the lower part of the city.
Nationalist headquarters later today ordered the mobilization of fourth quarter replacements of the class of 1041. The decree means that recruits are liable to be called up for regular military service in 1941. The number of men affected could not be learned, —United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.