General Franco's Progress General Franco continues his advance along the
Mediter- ranean coast to Valencia ; his next important objective is Sagunto. But his advance is slow and difficult, as the Republicans have erected strong defences and are resisting stubbornly. The insurgents maintain their immense superiority in the air; Alicante has again been bombed, and it is clear that General Franco has no intention of giving up bombing civilians so long as he can do so with impunity. But the Government has at length been provoked into a threat that further attacks will be answered by reprisals. Since the Government expressed its reluctance to bomb Spanish towns, its threat has been interpreted to mean that the reprisals would be aimed at Italy. It is extremely doubtful if that was meant, though Italy has seized the opportunity of stating that she would answer such threats with guns. The most natural object of reprisals would be Majorca, the base for the Italian bombers; to strike there would be to strike where the responsibility is greatest. But the result might be serious international reactions.
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