General Franco Replies There has been some progress in Spain
in the past week in both the military and the diplomatic spheres. On the Ebro the' insurgents have made repeated efforts to thrust the Republicans back from the right bank of the river and have gained some ground, but not much. Whether they have on the one hand definitely failed in their main endeavour, or on the other secured positions from which they can deliver the much-heralded " crushing blow," remains to be seen. In Estramadura General Queipo de Llano has advanced to within ten miles of the valuable Almaden mercury-mines ; unless the Republicans can deliver an effective counter-thrust they will sustain a very serious loss. At Barcelona there has been a Government reconstruction the cause of which is not very clear and the significance not very great. Meanwhile General Franco has at last replied to the British Note on the plan for the repatriation of foreign troops, but the nature of the answer has not been revealed as these lines -are being written. On one point, the exchange of prisoners through a British commission presided over by Sir Philip Chetwode, agreement has indeed been reached, and the commission should soon begin its actual work. The other commission, on the bombing of British ships, finds progress held up by the failure of the Foreign Office and the shipowners to agree on the conditions under which enquiries should be carried out.
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