After Barcelona After the surrender of Barcelona, without resistance, last
week, the Army of Catalonia retreated in disorder to the north; the advance of General Franco's troops along the Pyrenees leaves them in a perilous position and without any means of escape. Barcelona was reported to have received the insurgent troops with enthusiasm; but the un- controllable stream of refugees to the French frontier shows what fear General Franco inspires. At present there are some 300,000 refugees massed on the French frontier, in indescribable misery, and their numbers increase daily. The fugitives packed together on the roads to the frontier have been machine-gunned by General Franco's aeroplanes. Despite such conditions the Spanish Government, now estab- lished at Figueras, protests its intention of carrying on the struggle ; Dr. Negrin asserts that he has now obtained sufficient material, and the army is said to have reformed in good order. It is probable, however, that the war in Catalonia will be finished in the next three weeks. In Central Spain the Government forces under General Miaja are still capable of prolonged resistance. One important phase of the war is rapidly drawing to an end. With the conquest of Catalonia General Franco will have secured the main objectives of his foreign Allies, even though they promise to make no use of these valuable gains.
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