The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-06
Catalonia Defeat Has Become Real Debacle
tContinued from Pego .

to cross at Las l.ias refused to sur render their arms, Troops of the French sad Infantry Regiment trained rifles and machine guns on the border line and laid down a warning barrage to prevent them from crossing.
 There was no more Loyalist gov- ernment in Catalonia. Gen. Enrique, only a few days ago named com- mander in chief of the Catalonian army, was in sole command, mili- tary, and civil, directing the retreat.
 Peace Efforts Conflicting
 Conflicting reports circulated re- garding peace efforts, Julio Alvarez Del Vayo, Loyalist foreign minister, was in contact with foreign diplo- matic envoys here and was reported to have made peace overtures through Jules Henry, French ann bassador. Henry denied this report. But President Azana was reported definitely to intend to seek peace at Paris. The indication was that there was dissention in Loyalist ranks as to an armistice-that some men de- sired to carry on the fight in central Spain, where Gen. Jose Maija has an army of 100000 men.
 There were conflicting reports, too whether the Loyalist cabinet would try to set up headquarters anew at Valencia or Madrid. Miaja was re- ported both to have invited the gov ernment to his territory and to have urged 1t to stay away.
 Rout Becomes Historic
 The rout of the Loyalists in Cata- lonia had attained historic propor- tions. Of an army which numbered more than 220,000 men a week ago the only semblance of organized re- sistance came from an isolated force of about 10000 who, isolated in north west Catalonia, were fighting for their lives as they retreated slowly from Sec De Urgel to Puigcerda and the frontier. AS whole, the army was no more. Thousands Of troops had crossed the frontier yesterday and their rifles. pistols and machine guns filtered the roads of France where they had dropped them at the command of French troops.
 Scores of Loyalist airplanes had arrived at French airports. Twenty four landed at Carcassone alone. A fleet of 60 crossed the border and split up to seek airports.
 Battered to Death
 Since two days before Christmas the Loyalist army had been battered by 300,000 Moorish, Italian and Spanish infantry, backed by Ger man and Italian airplanes and Ital- ian artillery and tanks. The Nation alists had advanced with astonishing rapidity.
 On the seaside the Nationalists had taken Gerona Saturday and the last Loyalist seaport of importance --Palamos-yesterday.
 Motorized advance units entered the suburbs of Figueras last seat of the Loyalist government, last night, and awaited the arrival of the in- fantry to occupy the town.
 A few intrepid Loyalist field com manders sought to organize a rear guard action to give last fight. Gen. Enrique Lister and 'El Campesino," the brilliant farmer-general motor- cd from village to village along the frontier, exhorting the tired. disor- ganized Loyalist infantrymen to make a stand. and rounding up be- Wildered deSerters.
 But at the same time, other Loy- alist officers. determined to leave as little as possible for the conquerors. formed columns of artillery. tanks and ammunition trains hoping to take them into France and surren- der them.
 Greatest Confusion
 The situation was one Of the greatest confusion. Members of the Loyalist government did not know the whereabouts of other members. Troops awaited only safe evacuation into France Civilian refugees cow cred under the bombs that rained