The Fascist Offensive 

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 framework 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 Marañosa, San Martin 
de la Vega, and Ciempozuelos front. The attack was supported by 
heavy artillery fire from the Pinto Valdemoro region, and by tanks. 
Towards evening, the rebels succeeded in driving back the Repub-
licans to the edge of the Jarama. Owing to the pressure of the enemy 
forces, the anti-Fascists were compelled to abandon Marañosa and Ciem- 
pozuelos. While the Republicans were holding their positions at San 
Martin de la Vega, the rebels were establishing themselves on the heights 
to the North-West of this position. 
During the day, the rebels had driven the Republicans back to places 
where the River Jarama could be crossed. From the 7th to 10th of 
February, battles to cross the river continued along the whole front from 
La Marañosa to Ciempozuelos. The fiercest fight was that waged for 
the possession of the bend in the river, near the River Manzanares to 
the north-west of La Marañosa. 
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 Vaciamadrid, 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 counter-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. 

37