The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-10
By RICHARD D. M'MILLAN
(,Jnted Press Staff Correspondent)

(Jnted Press StaH C0rrespOndent)
 perpignan, French-Spanish From tier, Feb. l0-(UP)-Gen. Francesca Franco completed the conquest of Catalonia today and prepared to throw the full Nationalist military sctrength against republican lines in south central Spain.
 Driven from the last corner of Catalonia as Nationalist soldiers swept to the frontier at Port Bou, republican premier Juan Negrin flew from French soil to the Medlter- ranean coast of Spain presumably Valencia to confer with Gen. Jose Maja and other Loyalist leaders on th eir next move.
 Eegrin and Miaja were represented as desiring to carry on the long civil war in the hope that developments tn Europe would yet save their cause but there was powerful pressure from every side-including France and Britain-to end the conflict which has become virtually hopeless for the republicans. Frontier advices indi- cated that a final decision on sur- render or cont Nued resistance could not long be h cd.
 Franco Orders Rest
 At Barcelona, Nationalist sources disclosed that Franco had with drawn certain divisions from the Catalon mop-up campaign and or- dered they be given period of rest in preparation for an advance on the south-indicating an attack on Valencia probably would precede any attempt to capture Madrid
 At Marseilles, the British cruiser Devonshire arrived with 450 repub- lican refugees from the strategic is- land of Minorca, which the National ists captured yesterday after British officials charged they had broken a promise by twice bombarding the is- land and endangering the Devon- shire which was struck by bomb splinters.
 At Port Bou, Nationalist troops planted their red and gold banner on the French Mediterranean coast frontier after Loyalist forces retreat ing into France had blown up huge ammunition supplies and destroyed many buildings and tunnels.
 At Puigcerda, on the French from tier, the Nationalists completed their advance to the border by running up their flag at the Spanish end of the international bridge at 2:45 p. m.
 Plenty of Munitions
 Dispatches from Barlecona said that Franco had plenty of arms and munitions ready for an offensive against the south central zone but that the problem of caring for the parts of republican Spain taken over by Nationalists was great.
 It was pointed out that the fall of Madrid would add to the food problem and probably would neces- sitate importation of large supplies of grain and meat from the Ameri- cas. The speed with which Franco armies captured Barcelona was said to have caused Franco to divert sup- plies to Catalonia that had been in- tended for Madrid when and if it fell.
 Military action along the frontier are aas the Franco troops completed their occupation of Catalonia today was featured by huge explosions touched of by retreating republicans and by the almost unopposed advance of Nationalist columns. Two Franco columns marched into Puigcerda af- ter Loyalists had abandoned their posts and crossed the international bridge to France. The Nationalist reported there had been very little 11rhti..g as they advanced.
 Negrin Gets Away
 Nerrin spent the night at Toulouse Ind. refusing . statement, boarded ea air France commercial plane for Va1encia this morning, according to lhe report.
 II gas reported that he and Gen rnee Rfia1a. now the supreme Loyal ~f lender in central Spain, led the -rI,s,n which de111&uded finish fight
 ss1< ropalIst l466efs were leaving ..sz-s.<a 4II o4ax 2cHthern France