Facing the most serious crisis of the entire civil war, the Republican Cabinet in Barcelona has issued a decree for the general mobilization of all males between 20 and 49 years of age inclusive. All able-bodied men within this category were ordered to the front immediately to meet the Nationalist drive on the city. The Cabinet also voted to call out all military classes of men now between the ages of 36 and 42.
Meanwhile on the south-west front the Republicans continued their gains in a counter-offensive aimed at drawing Nationalist forces from the hard-pressed northern front. The Republicans reported they had encircled Penarroya which they said could not hold out much longer.
The Republicans said they had occupied strategic, heights surrounding the city and were able to shell Nationalist concentrations in the outskirts of the city. Numerous Nationalist counter-attacks along the southern front have been repulsed, Republican reports said.—United Press.
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