ABSTRACT
Massing a huge army, which excluded the Internationals for reasons of political propaganda, the Loyalists moved upon Teruel on December 15. In the midst of a snowstorm the city was quickly and easily surrounded, but behind its old walls rebel defenders tenaciously held out. In the offensive the government had taken Teruel without the help of any International Brigades. This seemed to be a good sign, for it showed Rolfe that the Army of the Republic was at last coming into its own, that soon it would be able to stand up to Franco without the help of the Internationals. The forces of Francisco Franco, stopping Loyalist thrusts north of Teruel, had counterattacked heavily, breaking government lines and seizing Argento, Perales, and Alfambra, the last two on the main road from Teruel to Belchite. The surprised defenders managed to swing their machine guns into action before the MacPaps were upon them, and suddenly wounded and dying Americans dotted the slopes.
