Spanish Government Prepares last stand for Barcelona: Franco's troops only Five Miles Away -- A new aerial picture of Barcelona. With Franco's troops only Five miles from the City. The Spanish Government is making hurried preparations for a last stand for Barcelona, Catalonia. As Nationalist bombers carried out successive raids over the port, the Government mobilized all available men ready to thrust them into the front line. A British destoyer is standing by to take off British residents. January 23, 1939.