SPANISH CONFLICT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 27, 31 July 1936, Page 9

SPANISH CONFLICT

COMPLICATIONS FEARED

PLOTTING IN RUSSIA

CREATION OF SOVIET

REPUBLIC

inlted Trcs.l Association —By Electric Tele-

crap li—Copyright,

LONDON, July 30.

All Europe is watching ihc Spanish conflict, fearing complications.

The ,'"Manchester Guardians'' f Paris correspondent says that the < attitude of the Press and the public , is in many ways reminiscent of the attitude towards the war between ] Italy and Abyssinia. Opinion is di- : vided between those favourable and ■ those hostile to Fascism, but even Rightists remember that French flags ' are flown at Madrid and that vie- ' tory for the rebels would turn Spain , into a Power hostile to France, and : even a political ally of Germany. As i a French observer remarked: '"It would really be the last straw if we : I had to keep an army along the Pyrenees nexl.'' SUPPORT TO THE REBELS? The French Government again de- j nies that it is helping Spain, yet there { is a growing conviction in France that other Powders are supporting the rebels. This would be regarded as an unfriendly act justifying France supporting the Spanish Government. M. Blum receiv|ed Left Wing supporters, several of whom urged active support of Spain, but it is understood that he was most reserved. A MOSCOW BROADCAST. 1 The "Daily Mail" says that Moscow | j is plotting to use the civil war in Spain 'to bring about the creation of a SpanI ish Soviet republic. It adds that this was revealed when a Commintern announcer in a Spanish broadcast from | Moscow said: "Victory must not be | frittered away by fraternising with the i bourgeoisie. Now is the right time to ! proclaim 'all power to the Soviets.' Ex- | isting Soviets in factories, mines, work- • shops, and railways must be increased i by militia, air force, and navy Soviets, • and delegates should be elected to hold ! a first congress and proclaim a Soviet j | republic." CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY. The British Foreign Office and the United States Department of State are! inquiring into reports that British and j American property has been confiscated by Communists controlling Barcelona, says the "Daily Telegraph." It is understood that the Ford and General Motors factories were taken over by workers' Soviets. An unconfirmed report says that British-owned banks were also confiscated. POSSIBLE VITAL FACTOR. Command of the sea may be a vital factor in the civil war. Unless the | insurgents can gain control of the Strait of Gibraltar and transport large numbers of native troops from Morocco, it seems certain that the Government will defeat them through weight of numbers. Yesterday's operations indicate that General Franco clearly realises the importance of sweeping the seas of Government ships and is concentrating on bombers and transport aeroplanes. The extent of the Government's control of Catalonia is shown by a decree taking over 1800 buildings throughout the entire province for the social assistance service committee which has been instituted to control the provisioning of Barcelona. The Government emphatically denies reports that it has confiscated industries and occupied churches. The decrees enable the Government to assume direction of only ; such public services as gas, water, and electricity, and then only when abso- ; lutely necessary. REBELS' AMMUNITION. An intense bombardment from the rebel lines in the Guadarrama Range has convinced Government officers that the rebels are receiving fresh supplies of-ammunition. ; The British United Press represen- [ tative with the insurgents states that General Mola has decided to attack • Madrid without waiting for General ■ Franco and is at present concentrating on the motorisation of his troops Ito speed up their advance. He seems to have given up worrying about Irun I ■ and San Sebastian. General Mola has i ■ assured General Franco that they will' I shake hands at Madrid on August 15. The rebels occupied Huelva after a j ! five-days' battle. j > Aviators have formed a suicide . squadron and volunteered to take up : aeroplanes laden with explosives and i crash the machines in any Government ; centre their leaders order. [ CLAIMS BY REBELS. Thirty-seven British naval vessels , are now in Spanish waters. . The rebels claim that they have cap- . tured Valencia, but this is unconfirmed. t They state that they successfully . bombed the Government warship \ Almirante Fernandez. Government forces bombed the rebel cruiser Almirante Cervera.

A column of Popular Front militia marching towards Saragossa to help the Government forces was heavily defeated, and the casualties are reported to be 2000.

A Lisbon message states that during a fierce aerial fight over Granada rebel aeroplanes sent down in flames three Government bombers which had previously bombed St. John's Hospital.