DECEMBER II INSURGENT

No change in weather: Aragon and Cataluna kept enjoying a mild winter while the south remains engulfed in rain.

Their efforts toward Quinto (23A:3033) rebuffed, the Nationalists tried their mettle on the other, northern Ebro bank, again with strong artillery and air support and combat engineers in an attempt to crack the entrenchments. Heavy fighting ensued at Pina de Ebro (23A:3032). This time they managed to break into the fortified line, but the Loyalists retreated in good order to fall-back positions. However, Quinto (33:3033), so valiantly defended previously, has now become a threatened salient.

The transfer of forces from the Valencia area to central Aragon continued. The fronts in the Pyrenees and at Teruel and Valencia remained quiet.

Despite poor visibility, Savoia-Marchetti bombers of the CTV continued to pay their attention to Barcelona’s industrial installations. Accurate anti-aircraft fire prevented daytime raids from reaching their targets, but the night-bombers got through and caused some damage.

Skies over the Mediterranean cleared, leaving the Nationalist Fleet vulnerable to air raids. Messerschmidts and Fiats provided cover off Tarragona and discouraged air attacks. The Fleet then set course at night for Maddalena rather than risking to run the gauntlet upon a return to Ceuta or Cadiz.

DEC II LOYALIST

To avoid losses and straighten their front, the Loyalists relinquished the Quinto salient in the Ebro valley. No activities in other sectors.

The Republican airforce continued avoiding combat in order to build back up to strength. It has again become a force to be reckoned with, but is still outnumbered by the Insurgents.

The French border remained open.

COMMENTARY

The Nationalist attack along the Ebro’s north shore marks the fourth time in a row that the big one despite good odds failed to inflict any losses (a probability below 4 percent). As a result, the stalemate continues despite the minor Nationalist gains in the Ebro valley.