Evening star., 1938-03-26

capture OF Barcelona.
By the Associated Press.
HENDAYE, France, March 26-Re-
treating government troops were ma
chine-gunned from the air today as
they were driven from the Aragon by
an nsurgent army bent on conquer
ing Catalonia and forcing a quick end
to the civil war.
1nsurgent warplanes repeatedly
strafed the shattered government
forces after artillery blasted them out
Of defense lines between Huesca and
Pima in the northern sector.
A huge chunk of territory, including
the Alcubierre Mountains north of the
Ebro River, fell into insurgent hands
as two of Gen. Francisco Frances
field armies-one pushing east from
Huesca and the other northeast from
Pna-converged on Lerida, key city of
Catalonia.
Bujaraloz Captured.
Gen. Frances troops captured the
important city of Bujaraloz In the ad-
vance along the Pina-Lerida highway.
Fraga, rs miles to the east on the
Catalonian border, became the next
objective of this force.
It was believed the capture of Le-
rida would doom Barcelona, capital of
the Spanish government.
The insurgents, while converging on
Lerida, Strengthened their 50-mile line
running from Huesca to the Bujaraloz
sector.
The Spanish government admitted
the insurgents victorious offensive had
carried all immediate objectives and
was still rolling eastward, despite every
effort to check it.
Bear Artillery on Shoulders.
In penetrating the Alubierre Noun
tains the insurgents carried light field
artillery on their shoulders through
the rugged terrain.
The Northern contingent, based on
Huesca, was moving down the Flumen
River from Granen toward Serinena
Another force was advancing along
the Pina-Lerida highway on Penalba
about 10 miles beyond Bujaraloz. These
two armies, engaged in vast "pincer"
movement, gained contact along the
rolling front.
Southwark in the sector across the
Ebro River third insurgent army
fought eastward from the Bergantes
River, heading into the Sierras toward
Tortosa, 81 miles away.
In all, the insurgent front was ex-,
tended more than 125 miles from
Huesca to the Bergantes Rivers
Rebels Take Three Pilots.
1nsurgent forces in the Guadalupe
River area 25 miles south of Alcaniz
captured the towns of Castellote,
Aguaviva and Mas de las Matas. At
the latter town three government
pilots were taken when they landed,
not knowing it was held by insurgents.
Government troops scattered through
the Alcubierre Mountains north Of
the Ebro were forced to evacuate
hastily or risk intrapment by the in
surgent armies converging on Lerida
from Huesca and Bujaraloz.
Attempts by government troops to
re-establish defense lines in Aragon
failed, though thousands of recruits
were rushed to the front.
The insurgent advance was sup
ported by tanks, artillery and air
craft, which were particularly useful
in clearing the way southeast of
Huesca. In this sector the govern
ment put up the most determined
resistance
Bujaraloz, a government stronghold
on the main highway to Barcelona,
was captured by insurgent cavalry.
Government dispatches said a terrific
battle ragged around the town, but the
insurgents said they took it without
. struggle.
Government aviation, although 1t
was shy many planes after combats
Thursday, returned to the air and
machine-gunned two bodies of insur-
gent troops on highway near Zara-
goza. These troops were reported
moving up to replace weary insur-
gents.
The government, in offensive oper-
ations near Madrid. reported captur-
ing the village of Ell Cardoca, in the
Somosierra Mountain range. The in
surgents were said to have Withdrawn
northward to Recuenco.
In Barcelona, the Spanish govern
ment claimed German warships were
seen escorting seven merchant vessels
toward the insurgent island of NAL
lorca. The government alleged these
merchant vessels carried troops and
materiel' to the insurgents.
British naval authorities at Gibral-
tar said they had no knowledge of