Hendaye, Jan. 21.
Gen. Francisco Franco's Nationalist troops smashed through the north and. south wings of the "ring of steel" sur-Founding Barcelona today. and later cracked the centre of the Republican ines by occupying the Key, city of Igualsda, thirly miles east. of Barceona, after severe hand-to-hand fight ing causing heavy casualties on both sides.
Republican forces were bei ced back along a seventy-mile front as the Nationalists climaxed today's. crushing offensive by. occupying. Tgvalada, Nationalist officers. admit~ ted the Republicans were putting up. "brave resistance," but reports. indicated that the Taw conscripts sent to the front this week from Barcelona. femees and factories without perience under fire were no match for Gen. Franco's seasoned Moroccan, Mahan and Navarrese columns.
'The Nationalists were driving eastward along the Lerida-Barcelona highway tonight, apparently in a thrust which would carry them to the final line of steel and concrete fortifeations surrounding Bareelons' suburbs, Military observers believed the only hope Barcelona had of being, saved was another stand such as the Republicans have made of Madrid. Tye heavy "concentrations Gen. [Franco has thrown into the Catalan offensive led most experts to believe {hat Barcelona could not be another Madrid.
The three Nationalist, spearhead which pierced Barcelona's outer. d Tences today forced the Republicans to withdraw troops along the entire front to. avoid the formation of pockets in which they might be trapped.
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