Uncertainties in Spain The offensive begun by the Spanish Republican
troops across the Ebro a week ago is in a stage which makes pre- diction about its ultimate consequences idle. The Repub- licans have encircled, but have not reduced, the important village of Gandesa ; on the other hand, while their advance has been brought practically to a standstill, they have held against concentrated Nationalist counter-attacks the ground gained by their first onslaught. General Franco's head- quarters claim that their opponents have put themselves in a position, with the river at their back, in which they can be annihilated when the Nationalist attack is delivered. But it has not been delivered yet, and it is clear that General Franco's plans, particularly in respect of Sagunto, have been seriously deranged as a result of Republican activity, which - has resulted in the last week in further advances of no great importance in the region of Teruel. South of Madrid the Nationalist thrust for the valuable Almaden mercury mines has obtained a complete initial success. Progress in another sphere—in regard to the withdrawal of foreign combatants— is either non-existent or so small as to be invisible. Sir Robert Hodgson, who has returned to Burgos in virtue of General Franco's acceptance of a not very hopeful scheme for a joint investigation of any future cases of the bombing of British ships, is no doubt discussing with the Nationalist authorities the British plan for the withdrawal of " volun- teers," but there is little prospect that the plan will yield results this side of Christmas.
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