MARCHING ON MADRID

Evening Star, Issue 22458, 1 October 1936, Page 11

MARCHING ON MADRID

SPANISH REBELS CONFIDENT CITY PERFECTLY CALM Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 30. The naval victory resulted in the sinking of the Ferrandiz and the armed trawler Xauen, while the Gravina was on fire fore and aft and was last seen sinking. General Franco predicts the occupation of Madrid on October 12, the anniversary of the discovery of America. He claims that the rebels cut the railway to Siguenza, north-east of Madrid, leaving the only link to the sea via Algodor. The Madrid Government is calling up the 1932-33 classes of conscripts and all bricklayers, cement workers, and engineers to make Madrid an impregnable fortress. The city proceeds as if there is no fear of attack. The cafes are filled and more people are abroad at night than was the case early in the war. REJOICING IN TOLEDO LONDON, September 30. Widespread rejoicing over the relief of the alcazar continues in Toledo. A pathetic drama connected with the siege occurred last week. Government troops telephoned to Geneval Moscardo, the alcazar commander:( “Your son is a hostage. We will kill him unless you surrender.” General Moscardo replied; “ Call my son to the telephone.” When the son spoke General Moscardo said: “My darling boy, those traitors proposed that 1 should save your life at the cost of the lives of my brave men and my honour. I hope, my son, that after you have prayed you will cry, ‘ Long live Spain I ’ and your life will be eternal.” The son was executed the same morning. TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM CAPITAL LONDON, September 30. (Received October 1, at 10.5 a.m.) The Spanish rebels claim that the advance guard from Toledo has reached Illeau, only 25 miles from Madrid. NON-INTERVENTION AGREEMENT BRITISH LABOUR URGES INVESTIGATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 30. (Received October 1, at noon.) A statement issued after the meeting of the National-Council of Labour this afternoon expresses concern at the working of the agreement for non-inter-vention in the Spanish civil war, and urges investigation. WHO'S WHO IN SPAIN What is the difference between a Spanish Loyalist and a Spanish Red r The answer, judging by newspaper reports of the civil war, is no difference at all. Which is very confusing to readers (states the ‘ Literary Digest of August 29). • In recent weeks a whole confusing vocabulary has burst upon Americans from Spain. The reason is that correspondents, isolated from one another on separate fronts, have been unable to co-ordinate their improvised terminologies. In a broad sense the civil war is a rebellion of regular army officers acting for conservative political groups which were defeated in last February’s elections. These officers are in revolt against the Popular Front Government. Meanwhile the Catalonian Government, already semiautqnomous, has socialised all land and industry a la Soviet, and moved to secede completely from the Madrid Government, while continuing its war against the army Rebels. At the outset it became clear that the plot had been carefully prepared by Gen. Francisco Franco, who immediately became the Rebels’ commander-in-chief; Gen. Emilio Mola, Rebel commander in the north; Gen. Miguel Cabanellas, president of the Rebels’ Provisional Government; and Gen. Gonzalo Quiepo de Llano, Rebel commander in the south. The following table was designed with the hope of fitting together the pieces of the Spanish jig-saw puzzle:— REBELS. Loosely termed Whites, Monarchists, and Fascists, they are supporters of the Rightist Popular Action bloc formed last February to offset the Leftist coalition of the Popular Front, and embracing the Royalists, Clericals, and Fascists.

In general, they are opposed to rapid social, political, or economic reforms, although, with the exception of the Royalists, they have become reconciled to Spain’s Republican form of government. They are supported by at least nine parties, including:— (a) Renovacion Espanola; Royalist led by Jose Calvo Sotelo, whose assassination on July 13 precipitated the civil war.

(b) Palange Espanola; led by Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of the former dictator and now in a Madrid gaol. They are strongly Fascist, reactionary and proc'crical, bitter haters of Communists.

(c) Agrarian Populist Party; Catholic Nationalists, whose leader, Jose Maria Gil Robles, fled the country at the outbreak of the insurrection.

(d) Traditionalist Party; Monarchists opposed to Alfonso’s return; intensely Catholic and conservative. Beyond parties, but included in General Mola’s rebel forces of the north, are the Carlists, red-bereted peasant militia from Navarre (of which Pamplona is tlio capital), numbering approximately 20.000; devoutly Catholic, bent on restoring monarchical government, hut with descendants of Don Carlos—i.o., the “ legitimist ” branch of the former ruling house. Foreign Legion: Organised in 1920 and patterned after the French body. It counts 6,000 men and officers of Spanish and other nationaHtie&

Moroccan Regulars, or Moors: Stationed in Spanish Morocco, now in complete Rebel control; number about 35,000, of whom 10,000 are native Arabic-speaking Moors. Also included in Rebel control are the Balearic Islands, in the Mediterranean; and the Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. GOVERNMENT. Variously referred to as Loyalists, Reds, and Leftists. . President of the Spanish Republic is Manual Azana, head of the Popular Front Government formed last February through a coalition of the following parties;—> 1. Centre: (a) Radical Party; favours Republican regime and co-operation with Right Parties. (h) Conservative Republican Party; Catholic and conservative. (c) Independents. 2. Left: (a) Socialist Party; favours confiscation of landed estates and socialisation of production; anti-clerical and antiroyalist; leaders, Francisco Largo Caballero (extremist) and Indalecio Prieto (moderate). (b) Radical Democratic Party; favours complete separation of church

and State, free public schools, evolutionary improvement of peasants’ and workers’ living conditions by legal process.

(c) Catalonian Left Party; favours radical, social, economic, and political reforms and regional autonomy. (d) Communist Party; Sovietminded. bitterly anti-clerical, favours State ownership of all industries. (e) Anarcho-Syndicalists; belligerent labour group which flouts constitutional methods and demands local autonomy everywhere. Civil Guard: Mobile constabulary recruited from the army; formerly loyal to Government, but now divided between Rebels and Loyalists; actual strength 22,000, of whom 5,000 are mounted. Army: About IGO,OOO effectives, mostly deserted to Rebels. Marxist or Workers' Militia: emergency male and female volunteers mustered by Socialist, Communist, and Anarcho-Syndicalist loaders. Red Carmens: Militiawomen taking active part in front-line fighting. Assault Guard: Shock police troops numbering 17,000, mostly with Rebels.