The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-16

A@f0AA1AAAAgA AAOAAA = @~CS ~ construction for months around the city and the government last week put all men unfit for front line duty to work on completing the de- fense lines. Putting general mohi- lization decree into effect today, the government ordered the classes of 1917 and 1918 to rejoin their regi- ments at once while the classes of 1915 and 1916 were mobilized for Qualifications work.
 The Government reported that its offensive in Estremadura was '.pressing hard" on Rebel defenses of the rich Penarroya Mining zone, after turning back Rebel counter attacks.
 Take S5 Villages
 In a day of astonishing progress, the Nationalists claimed to have oc- cupied 85 towns and villages, in- cludfng Tarragona, capital of Tarra- gona Province; Tarrega and Reus. They estimated their gains for the one day of Sunday at $40 square miles, with a population of 100000. Jubilant celebrations were held throughout Nationalist territory, it was announced officially.
 we will be in Barcelona in month";" Gen. Juan Kindelan, chief of the Nationalist Air force, told a United Press Staff Correspondent at field headquarters.
 The greatest importance was att tached to the report that insurgent troops were approaching Igualada, on the Lerida- Barcelona road. It was to be assumed that the Loyalists would defend it to the end. Its cap trre would lead the Nationalists on to the last defense line between them and Barcelona ,Spains biggest city.
 The Nationalists after capturing Tarragona, on the coast, had ad- vanced up the coast toward Barcel- ona and established their front line at Cape Cros, 10 miles East of Tar ragona. Three Nationalist destroy CTS entered Tarragona harbor.
 The line at which the Nationalists now found themselves faced the Loyalists last strong defense line be- fore Barcelona itself, and the Ma tionalists were expected to continue their attack with the fullest vigor.
 Nationalist leaders seemed to think that the Loyalist resistance was cracking. It was asserted that yes- terday alone nearly 5000 prisoners and deserters" were taken.
 There was no sign of this so far as the Loyalists were concerned. They had just mobilized more men; they still had strong defense lines between the Nationalists and Bar celona.
 The Loyahsts admitted that they had lost Tarragona, and said that they had formed a new line East of Tarragona and Valls. They explain ed their retreat by saying that their troops had been in dangerous posi- tions after previous Nationalist gains, and that hence they were ordered to retire to better ones.
 At Barcelona there was one an- nouncement which was evidently of great importance but which was not explained in dispatches.
 It was that the ministry of defense had ordered Lieut.. Col. valentin Gonzalez to join the center and South armies commanded by Gen. Jose Miaja, hero of the defense of Madrid.
 Valentin Gonzalez is Fl Campes- ino, "the Pheasant" perhaps the most brilliant field commander in the Loyalist army.
 Just why man of his calibre should have been diverted from the Catalonian front at time when the Nationalists were advancing rapidly was mystery--unless he was being sent to aid Miaja in winning really major victory in the Loyalist diver sional offensive in Southwestern Spain.
 It was evident that this offensive had begged down in the last couple of days, because of strong Nationa- list endorsements and rainy wealth CT.
 However, the Loyalists announced that Miaja visited his troops at the front yesterday, and was enthusias- tically cheered as he inspected new ly conquered territory.
 It was made known also at Bar celona that the Loyalists were plan ming further operations, and it was assumed that "El Campesino" would play a big role in these.
 Late dispatches from Madrid and Jaen, nearer the scene of fighting than Barcelona, indicated that with better weather Gen. Miaja had al- ready resumed offensive action. It was asserted that his troops had reached the outskirts of Azuaga, only IA miles from the railroad which is the chief Nationalist supply line from Southern Spain and the Mediterranean.
 At the same time, Jean reported, there were two auxiliary operations in which the Loyalists drove the Nationalists to the North side of the Tagus river at two points--Malpica, 27 miles West of Toledo, and Cas- tilla Villalba, between Talavera De La Reina and Puente Del Arzobispo, to the West. RTCH0p cACCInV