Page "218 BC" Paragraph 8

* A Roman army under the consul Publius Cornelius Scipio is transported by sea to Massilia ( modern Marseille ) to prevent Hannibal from advancing on Italy.

As Scipio moves northward along the right bank of the Rhône, he learns that Hannibal has already crossed the river.

Realizing that Hannibal probably plans to cross the Alps, Scipio returns to northern Italy to await him.

However, he still sends an army into Spain under his elder brother Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus to deal with the Carthaginian forces still there.