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Show territory ot in the early atagea of the latt of-fenaive of-fenaive and have increased the seeming hopelessness hopeless-ness of crushing Madrid, there is no indication that the tide has turned sufficiently in their favor to bring nearer convincing signs that the struggle -is nearing its end. If "neutrality" becomes a fact, if Mussolini lives up to his promise and if an international blockade is successful. Franco's situation will become so desperate that it is beyond be-yond possibility for him to maintain it without almost providential gains where there seems now to be little likelihood of attainment. Those three iff are big ones, though, and a stumbling block to prognosticators on the ground. One thing is certain, though, and that is that the longer it is before a final decision in tha field is reached, the graver becomes the possibility of the Spanish situation adding further to European chaos and bringing it to the point of boiling over. The nature of the feverish effort at London to atabilize matters where they are, bad aa they are, is the plainest indication of this. ; II Duce't Promiia VrUSSOUNI reportedly hag promised that he ' 111 will send no more "volunteers" to Spain to ; reinforce the Franco rebels "unless other na-' na-' tions start to do so again." The use of the word , 'Volunteers" by both Hitler and Mussolini is , guch a transparent fraud that it must be regarded only as amusing. In the same hour that the cables brought news of 11 duce'i agreement made through Ambassador Dino Grandl at London, Valencia dispatches told of reports circulating , there that Italy was planning to send 100,000 , Italian soldiers to help Franco smash through to decisive victory. Thoroughly trustworthy sources have revealed re-vealed that on March S, when the insurrection-' insurrection-' fats begsn their fifth desperate offensive on the , Gusdslsjara front, Italian troops formed the , spearhead of the attack. The purpose of this drive undoubtedly waa to cut off Madrid from the rest of loyalist-beld territory and force it to capitulate. Franco must have pretty well proved ' to himself thst it will take more men and better , tactics than he has employed before to take the , old capital. The rally of the government forces . on March 14 drove the attack back and the rebels lost vital ground. There were 230 Italian prison- erg taken by the loyalists and examination ' brought out that there were then 30,000 to 40,000 Italian troops taking part in the offensive. Best estimates of observers is that German troops in , Spain number 15,000. Spanish loyalist officials ssy there are from 80,000 to 85,000 foreign "volunteers" reinforcing the government's armies. Lack of fresh war ma- - terials and food for the civil population is the ; most serious problem of the Valencia govern-, govern-, ment Scattered damage continues to be inflicted by insurgent forces, but falling shells and bombs in Madrid Saturday failed to stop gay Easter - festivities or to dsmpen the optimism of loyalists that "it won't be long now." But in addition to ' his other problems President Luis Companys has I so far failed to set up a new government to sue- ceed that of Premier TsxrsdeUas, which resigned . Friday. Though loyalist force have regained all the |