The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-23
200 Americans in City Are Ordered to Evacuate
 Immediately SITUATION DESPERATE FOR LOYALISTS' CAUSE Government Agencies in City Moving Possession Towards French Line
BY HARRISON LAROCHE United Press Staff Correspondent

BY HARRISON LAROCHE United Press Staff Correspondent
 Hendaye, French-Spanisl. Frontier, Jan. 23 - (UP) Armies of rebel Gen. Fran cisco Franco battled to with in sight of Barcelona today as the Loyalists put every man, woman and child un- der drastic military rule designed to combat infantry, tank, artillery and aerial 
 The POO Americans in Barcelona were urged to vacuate by the United States consulate.
 With the two and half year old Civil war approaching what iil- claim is its last great chap ter, the offensive that Franco launched two days before Christ mas swept up the Mediterranean coast and smashed through the Ca- talan hills in an effort to close a paralyzing ring around the govern ment capital.
 Situation Desperate
 Developments incluGued:
 The military situation grew hour ly more desperate for the Loyalists, with rebel troops capturing Men, tiras Heights, IA miles southwest of the city, and then driving on up the highway toward Barcelona, while another column was within about ten miles of the city on the west. In the north. rebels pounded at defenses of Manresa and forced Loyalists out of Sec de Urgel. Rebel planes continually combarded Bar celona, hitting six British and French ships.
 At Barcelona, where Loyalists fought to keep communication lines open to the French frontier, the en- tire Spanish republic was placed uIl- der a state of war equivalent to martial law in order to put every available man and woman to work on Qualifications.
 The United States consulate urg- ed Americans to leave Barcelona at once and the cruiser Omaha, the destroyer Badger and the destroyer Jacob Jones waited with steam up off the French coast to answer Q call to remove United States citizens.
 Evacuation Ordered
 All civilians were ordered evacuat- ed from the fertilization zone around Barcelona and normal life was closed in all industries and businesses except those vital to de- fense.
 Insurgent military dispatches re- ported that the Loyalist offensive on the Estremadura front in South western Spain had been smashed and that the enemy was thrown into disorder"
 Government departments in Bar celona were evacuating, moving arr chives and various offices toward the French frontier. Almost TOO prisoners who have been condemned to death-most of them charged with aiding Franco-were transferred to Gerona. 26 miles from the French frontier.
 From Barcelona itself, United Press Correspondents reported great tension and excitement as the gog- ernment announced that it would remain in the beleaguered city.
 Traffic was increased as auto buses and trucks dashed around the streets carrying civilians back from the fortified zones. The government order to close shops was about 45 per cent effective. Crowds were greater in the streets despite the al- most constant aerial bombardment.
 w. c. Thurston, charge d'affaires, prepared to ask Admiral Henry E. Lackey tonight to bring the ships into the port of Barcelona. They would arrive probably by Wednes- day.
 200 In Barcelona
 There are about 200 Americans in Barcelona, many of whom are P;ierto Ricans and Filipinos. The consulate urged all to get out by their own efforts if possible and. mimeographed warning said, "Nol
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