SPANISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1926, Page 2

SPANISH AFFAIRS

ARTILLERY KEPT TO BARRACKS. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Assoc ation. LONDON, Sept. 6. Reports received from Cadiz, via Gibraltar, state that the Spanish warships there are supporting the artillery, who are confined to barracks. A similar situation exists in Barcelona. KING HURRIES TO CAPITAL. LONDON, Sept. G. A Madrid message states that King Alfonso has displayed his customary activity in the crisis. When the Government's message reached him, he left San Sebastian at two o’clock in the morning and motored all night, reaching Madrid at S a.in., after having covered 250 miles in six hours. When he lv,d received the Director, General Do Rivera’s report, His Majesty reiterated his confidence that the Directorate would he able to quell the artillerymen’s insubordination.

Tho newspapers arc under a strict censorship, and telegraph and telephone communications are suspended, so .semi-official information alone is issuing from Madrid. This suggests that the Government is meeting the crisis with success in most of the centres, and is avoiding bloodshed, though there are some reports of n mutiny in the garrison of Segovia having to lie forcibly suppressed. An official journal has published a decree announcing that all who resist the Government or put difficulties in their way will he considered as rebels. The decree has also ordered that the officers and soldiers should not obey the Artillery Generals and other senior artillery officers but should arrest them if the artillery officers and senior officers venture to oppose authority. ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS. "" LONDON, Sept. 5. The Daily Express’s Paris correspondent expresses the opinion that General Do Rivera intends to aim at the formation of an Alliance of European dictators, and that he particularly hopes that Signor .Mussolini will help him to work out a new Mediterranean policy, which would he Spain’s answer to th e affront which she bus received at Geneva . The Daily Chronicle’s Paris 'correspondent asserts that grave dissent has arisen between King Alfonso and General Primo Do llivera, and that the revolt of the artillery was due to the King siding with the “Junto” of tho artillery officers, who are mostly aristocrats; but semi-official statements received from Madrid represent that King Alfonso is working cordially with the Government.

KING UPHOLDS DE RIVERA. MADRID, Sept. C. King Alfonso has arrived. He granted an audience to General De Rivern. The King reiterated his confidence in tho Government, which has now received the adherence of the municipalities, the citizens and the military men. Perfect discipline characterises the artillery reservists and the non-artil-lery men. Normality lias been restored. The Segovia artillery officers arc confined to barracks. Three regiments in Madrid were. disarmed by an infantry picket. LONDON, Sept. G. The “Daily Mail” Madrid correspondent reports: “It is officially announced that the revolt has been suppressed and quiet has been restored throughout the chief provincial centres. The streets are being patrolled by normal crowds to flock to the hull rings and other places of amusement, displaying little interest in events.”'