Evening star., 1938-04-06
FURIOUS CONFLICT
RAGESAT TORTOSA
Heavily Reinforced Armies
Enter Third Day of
Bitter Fighting.

March 9. Loyalist forces hare
staged heroic resistance. but hare
been unable to stem adudnce OF foe,
supported by large contingents OF
italian and German soldiers and
quantities OF arms. Rebels aim to
cut Catalonia and its capital, Bar
celona, from Valencia and rest OF
government controlled spain.
By the Associated Press.
HENDAYE, France, April GA
furious battle for possession of Tortosa
increased in intensity today as heavily
pounded each other in the third day
of the Spanish insurgent attempt to
take the Ebro River delta town.
Stubborn government resistance in
the last scrap of territory barring Gen.
Frances soldiers from the Mediter-
ranean Coast surprised the insurgent
command which hurried new motor
lied divisions into battle from AlcaniZ
and Gandesa
During the night, when insurgent
bombers were unable to see their OBJ
jectives. government militiamen coun-
er-attacked and drove the insurgents
out Of several positions conquered yes
terday in bitter hand-to-hand fight
ing.
Fiercest Battle Of Drive.
1nsurgent dispatches to Irun said
the battle of Tortosa was the fiercest
yet fought on the seaward drive that
began March g.
They declared, however, that COM
munications between Barcelona and
the rest of government Spain already
were effectively. cut by the fire of
Gen. Frances big guns playing upon
the coastal highway to Valencia.
The insurgents usual maneuver of
surrounding a city before conquering
it was wrecked during the night when
wave after wave of militiamen, throw
ing light flares and then hand gren-
AIDES, drove back Franco units which
yesterday were reported "at the gates
Of Tortosa.
A number of artillery batteries were
rushed to the area by the government,
both from the Madrid and Catalan
fronts. The cilivian population had
fled.
Franco Expects Quick Peace.
The new government resistance
came just after insurgent Gen. Franco
addressing cabinet meeting at Bur-
gos yesterday said the end of the war
could be expected within short time
The key to all Catalonia, the gener-
elissimo said, had fallen into insurgent
hands with the taking of Lerida, the
successes along the Segre River and
the advance along the Ebro
The cabinet approved law setting
aside the Catalonian autonomy statut,
and giving Catalonia equality in gov
ernment with other sections of Spain
Antonio Mola, cousin of the lat
Gen. Emilio Mola who died in an air
plane crash on the Bilbao front las
year, was appointed civil governor O
Teruel and Luis Ventillo Berger wa
named civil governor Of Lerida, cabi
net communique said.
Loyalists Mass in Mountains.
To the right and left of the insurg
ent spearhead strong government re
Inducements were reported masse.
behind the rocky barriers of four small
mountain chains in a last line of de
fense before the Ebro River Delta.
To the right in sight of the Medi
terranean. Gen. Frances troops hat
foothold in the Razas and Montene
grelo Mountains. The left flank posi-
tions in the Gardo and Burga Noun
tains still were held by the govern
ment.
Long lines of trucks loaded will
munitions and supplies Travelled dowl
the winding highway from Cherta t.
the insurgent lines, preparatory to tn,
final push. Roaring planes patrolee
the air above the insurgent suppl,
caravans.
Rebels Aim at Balaguer.
In the northern sector, insurgen
pressure was aimed at Balaguer, l.
miles northeast of Lerida and upper
most end of the governments nev
defense line before Barcelona.
Exploring patrols of Gen. Jual
Vague drove across the Noguera Riba
gorzana River in at least five places
The river forms the western boundar,
OF Lerida Province, one of the fou
Catalan provinces.
These patrols extended insurgen
control almost to the parallel river
Noguera Pallaresa, on which is locate,
important electric power plants a
Tremp.
Between Balaguer and Lerida, sup
porting columns captured a number o
villages, including Corbins at tn
junction Of the Segre and Noguer
Ribagorzana Rivers.
Border Fortifications Rushed.
PERPIGNAN, France, April 6 LP).-
The barcelona government in Spoi