Teruel Again On Tuesday, after a fortnight's calm, General Franco
delivered a renewed assault on Teruel. According to Sala- manca communiques (which lately have not been conspicuous for accuracy) General Aranda's troops broke through the Republican lines and occupied the Muleton, a hill command- ing the town, on the east of Teruel, and, along the Celadas- Teruel road, are driving the Republicans from positions which have been in their possession for over a year. General Franco is thus engaged in yet another attempt to repair the damage done to his prestige by the loss of Teruel and the failure of his recent offensive ; it seems probable that it may receive a third blow. It is credibly reported, however, that his greatest loss in the, battle for Teruel was not in prestige, nor in territory, of which the Republicans occupied 6o square miles, but in men and material : his losses in men have been estimated at 35,000, doubtless an exaggeration. Yet a smaller number would suffice to put a new offensive elsewhere out of the question. It is possible, therefore, that he is concen- trating his resources on the recapture of Teruel, though even the first attempt is said to have been against the advice of his foreign allies. The second attempt may prove as bloody as the first, which General Franco could ill afford ; the Govern- ment, on the other hand, is reported to have 75,000 fresh and fully trained troops ready to put in the field.
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