Gen. Franco Claims Republicans Are in Retreat Barcelona Mobilizes All Forces to Stem Advance Saragossa, Jan. 8.
Nationalist forces yesterday cross the Ebro, and invaded a large area in the southern part of Tarragona Province.
They claim to be now only 22 miles from the Coast, The Republican forces in the Tortosa pocket, it is stated, have now been placed in critical position.
The defence of the Catalonian front, the Na~ jonalist forces claim, appears to be breaking down, and, with improved weather, the Nationalist troops are stated to have ad~ vanced rapidly in all sectors.
In the north, pressing down from Artesa de Segre, they claim to have reached Doncell, 'The Nationalist centre is said to have left the bridgehead at Balaguer well behind, and to be about six miles along' the Mongay road, and near Belleaire, on the Tarragona road.
The southern forees advanced yesterday morning about four miles, and fare now close to Vimbodi, while in other sectors the Nationalists are ad-
British Pro-Consul, Wife Arrested Burgos, Jan, 3, Authoritative information has be British Pro-Consul at San Sebastian, vaneing rapidly through the roughest part of the Monssnt hills—Reuter.
"Fight Isto the Death"
Hendaye, Jan, 8 Republican forees on the Catalonton front are in full retreat and no longer able to resist the smashing Nationalist drive on Barcelona, Gen. Francisco Franco's Nationalist headquarters at Burgos announced tonight.
Reports from Barcelona admitted the situation was serious and that the general mobilization of all armed forees in the rear was being rushed to reinforce crumbling front line de~ fences. "The fight is to the death,"
Republican report said. "The hour for supreme effort, has come:
Republican reports said the main hope. of halting the crushing Na-launched on Christmas Eve was the success of the new Republican drive south-western Spain.
'Republican forees on the Estremadura' front-were reported. to have cerassed the River Jujar and occupied the villages of Peraleda and Suaejo Badajos Province. Advances. in other sectors on the southern front also were reported.
"The intenseness, quickness and large scale nature' of the southern offensive," Republican reports said, Shave disrupted Nationalist lines and are expected to force the enemy to draw reserves out of the Catalonfan. front"
The Nationalists, meanwhile, claimed they had occupied points south of Artesa de Segre and enemy Yrenchworks east of the bridgehead Balaguer, advancing 7 miles toward Mongay—United Press.
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