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' On February 21, the Republicans began an offensive against the

rebels’ left flank.

They surrounded Pingarron Hill, and captured the ford near

San Martin de la Vega. In this way, they also threa~tene»d the enemy’s

right flank which was stationed on the eastern side of the River Jarama.

On the 22nd and 23rd, the Rtepublicans continued their advance; in spite of the desperate resistance of the rebeals, they took the Pingarron t Hill, and forced the Fascists to retire two or three kilometres along the eastern front of the Jaramsa.

During these days, the fiercest fights took place for the plossaetssion of Pingarron Hill, ‘where the rebels left more than a thousand killed and wounded, when they finally retreated.

On February 27, when the Repubrlican forces launched another coun- ter-attack, the initiative finally passed out of Fascist hands and they' were forced on the defensive. /

The February battles by the River J arama had a different character from all those that had been fought previously. On both sides, consider— a able forces confronted eafch other. For the offensive, the rebels con- centrated from about 25,000 to 30,000 picked men, of Whom at least 10,000 were Germans and Italians.

The average depth of the ‘front per kilometre reached 1,000 men,. and was zsometimes as high as 2,000 and more.

The fightving was fierce and «sust~ained —— both sides fought sava=ge.ly for each foot of ground. Lastly —— the b»a—tt1~es were of a prolonged character ——- at month of almost uninterrupted fighting —- and were a severe test for both sides. g c ‘ J

After this month of merciless struggle the Fascists could hold only a zone with merely twelve kilometres front and from three to five kilo-

. metres in depth on the eastern side of the River Jarama.

Larter events on the J drama front proved the correctness of the forego- ing analysis. On a few occasions the Fascists attempted local offensi- ves, but never again could they continue their advance. Just one year after the February battles, the original lines are maintained at Jarama.

The folloywing pages give graphic accounts of the fighting in these

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