The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-09
Premier Negrin May Be Captured As Prisoner
tcontinued from Page D

from Page D
 not know what to do. satalonia was lost. No one had the slightest doubt that the Nationalists could take central Spain if they had to- But Qeneralissimo Francisco Franco had refused all peace terems. It was surrender abjectly, without condition or fight on.
 There were indications as the Loyalist leaders met that they might send Q deputation to consult Miaja before they announced final de- cision.
 It was difficult to describe or even to conceive as anything but Q madman's dream, the situation that existed on this frontier today,
 Premier Negrin and Q group of associates maintained their head- quarters ct House No. a. This house Is in Q little plot of spanisl, soil which extends into the French side of the border. The house .s Spanish, and Is in Spain. But when Negrin steps out of the door, front or back, he is in France.
 Foreign Minister Del vayo divided his time between the Spanish and French sides of ie Perthus, trying to maintain constant contact with both Loyalist leaders and busy, If silent, French and British diplo- mats.
 Final Stage of Retreat Gen. Vincente Rojo, the chief of staff of the Catalonian army, and e group of his aides, stayed on the spanish side, supervising the final stage of the retreat.
 Throughout the night tired, dirty, bedraggled, sullen faced Loyalist troops poured over tho frontier to drop their arms. With them came artillery, tanks, supply trains. Hour after hour, without end, the march continued. All the time, there was Q rumble as of far off thunder, growing steadily nearer the border, as the shocks troops of Gen. En- rique Lister and Gen. Modesto, comprising the rear guard, blew up bridges and roads behind them to impede the Nationalist advance.
 Telephone lines were busy be- tween the frontier and Paris and London. At any moment might ccme some message that would lead to an end of the war which in its first few months took ofnre lives than were lost in the four years of the American civil war.
 Other Side Of Picture
 All that was one side of Q picture The other was that which concerned tho refugees, soldier and civilian hundreds of thousands of them, who were on the French side of the bor- der. Thousands of these refugees were wounded. Some had lost m arm or . leg. Few had had any medical treatment for days.
 Nationalist war communiques said that tho Insurgents were timing their advance to the slow retreat oi the Loyalist rear guard, the mali, body of which-2b, 900 in all--waa expected to start crossing the from tier this afternoon.
 The Nationalists were advancing along al roads. They had passed Figueras, Olot Ripoll and were at tho outskirts of Puigeerda, where small Loyalist rear guard still held out.
 Denial of Surrender
 Paris, Feb. e.-(UP)-President Manuel Azana Of tho Spanish re- public arrived in Paris today as Loy- alist authorities Issued . blanket denial of surrender reports. Agana went to the Spanish embassy here and was expected to seek contact with French leaders in an effort to negotiate an honorable peace. Azana made 1t known in the French Alps where he went on his arrival from Catalonia early this week, that he wanted peace. But the only peace the Nationalists are willing to accept is based on unconditional surrender Loyaiist sources here denied ali reports that such surrender was con- tempiated and specifically reports that Gen. Jose Miaja, commander in chief in central Spain, was ready to abandon the fight.
 Embassy Emphatic
 Soon after Azana's arrival. the Spanish embassy Issued an official denial of reports that Gen. Miaja was negotiating with the National ists for surrender on certain condi- tions. supplementing this denial, the embassy told the United Press:
 "The embassy in behalf of the Spanish government officially de- nied that Miaja has established con- tact with deneralissimo Francisco Franco (the Nationalist leader) and has asked peace terms or Is negotiat- ing a surrender. To the present there has been absolutely no nego- tiation with Franco"
 There were reports that during Azana's visit here, Premier Juan Negrin of the Loyalist government would fly to central Spain to discuss the situation with military and poli- tical leaders there, and that then the Loyalist cabinet might meet and take c final decision on surrender. Secret Senate Debate Azana's arrival, marking e new phase in the civil war negotiations, coincided with the second day Of a highly secret senate debate on na- tional defense, the second such de- bate since the World war.
 The navy, air and army commit tees, along with members of nation- al defense, credit and other sub- committees, attended the debate. Joseph Caillaux, president of the finance committee, presided. Pre- mier Daladier was present to an- swer questions, as were the n1inis- ters of war. navy and air.