 On August 14, Badajoz fell to the Nationalists under General Yagüe, cutting off the Republic from Portugal.Ahead of him, several hundred miles to the northeast, across the broad Tagus River, gleamed Madrid, the aim and object of General Franco's lightning campaign.The Army of Africa's famous northward "Marcha" (or "March" - actually a fully motorized displacement), consequently, continued without pause into the hills and valleys sheltering Madrid.