Hendaye, Jan. 20, Spanish Nationalists closed the fourth week of their smashing attack on Barcelona today with a new of fensive against the last remaining. Republican defences surrounding the besieged" Republican capital. Republican forces, reinforced by raw Conscripts, resisted gallantly az Gen. Francisco' Franco ordered" his land fand air forces to take three key towns on the path to Barcelona "at any cost" While Nationalist planes bombed and harried Republican posi tons and lines of supply, veteran Na-Hlonalist Moroccan, Italian and. Ni varrese columns launched a three-point drive against Igualada, Villa Franco, and Vendrell. Nationalist headquarters announced tonight that the new offensive had carried the Nationalist spearhead further toward the Mediterranean, reaching within thirty miles of Barcelona. Heavy" shelling was reported along the entire Barcelena front. where the Nationalists were reported to have massed more than 400 heavy guns. In some sectors Republican troops were reported to bbe falling back on the "iron belt" defences in Barcelona's suburbs.
Stiffest Republican resistance was: niet in the Pons sector where several Nationalist attacks were reported to have been repulsed—United Press.
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