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The Fascist Otfensivé

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The following article written by Gobuliev in a Soviet paper gives a precise analysis of one of the great battles in the war in Spain. We publish it here because it gives a clear and objective description of the general framewortlc within which the first battles of the XV Brigade

were fought. It was in an important sector of this decisive zone that

the different Battalions of the XV Brigade went into action.

On the morning of February 6, the Fascists attacked with three columns of three thousand men each along La Marafiosa, San Martin de la Vega, and Ciemlpozuelos front. The attack was supported by heavy artillery fire from the Pinto Valdemoro region, and by tanks.

Towards evening, the rebels succeeded in drivingback the Repub-F

licans to the edge of the Jarama. Owing to the pressure of the enemy forces, the anti—Fascists were compelled to abandon Marafiosa and Ciem- pozuelos. Whilte the Republicans were holding their positions at San Martin de la Vega, the rebels were establishingthemselves on the heights to the North-West of this «position.

During the day, the rebels had driven the Rep»ubl>icans back to «places where the River Jarama couild be cro-ssed. From the 7th to 10th of February, battles to cross the river continued along the Whole front from La Marafiosa to Ciempozuelos. The fiercest fight Was that waged for the possession of the bend in the river, near the River Ma-nzalnratres to the north-west of La Marafiosa.

On February 8, the rebels forced the Republicans back from the bend in the river, and captured the bridge which crosses the River Man- zanares to the south of Vacia1nadrid, and in this way, they came very near to the Valencia Road. But on February 9, the Government troops recaptured the bridge by a vigorous co~unlt-er-attack and reoccu- pied the northern side of the river bend.

After five days of fighting and after suffering heavy losses, the rebels succeeded in advancing five to eight kilometres.

On February 11, at sunrise, the rebels succeeded in capturing the Pintoca bridge by a surprise attack.

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