Burgos, Mar. 4.
eral Fr o's Spanish Nationalist Fleet blockaded all Republican ports today and laid down a hea artillery barrage on east coast c in ce-operation with Italian bombing planes.
Meanwhile, Gen. Franco ordered 200,000 Nationalist troops on the northern front to be ready to push southward at the slightest indication at Republican morale had ebbed.
Another 200.000 Nationalist troops completed preparations for an attack on Madrid. Hroadly expressed expectations that the Republicans may surrender during the next week are believed responsible for the delay in Gen, Franco's final "end the war" offensive—United Press. me Conference
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.