TROUBLE IN PORTUGAL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1927, Page 2

TROUBLE IN PORTUGAL

NEWS FKOAI PORTUGAL. HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES. [Australian & X.Z. Gallic Association.j PARIS, February S. A message irum the Portuguese frontier emphasises the revolt is spreading through the whole country which is now in a ferment. A general railway strike is proclaimed. The sailors lroin the cruisers Vasco Di Gama, Carval and lloarnnji, mutinied, and occupied several quarters of Lisbon. Fierce fighting is going on. The Government is using a large number of aeroplanes to bomb the insurgent positions. Despite the violent bombardment, the insuients at Oporto maintain a hold ol the city. The bulk of the garrison has joined the movement, and was veinforced front Valencia- in the teeth of heavy Government fire from the south hank of the Douro. Alany civilians in Oporto have been injured by machine gun fire. The insurgents demand the abolition of the Carmonds diuiatorship. The latter is reported to have ordered the arrest of 150 journalists and publicists in Lisbon for alleged implication in the revolution.

RIGID DICTATORSHIP

LONDON, February S

The “Daily Alail” says: An Englishman. a resident of Vigo, lias arrived from Oporto. He relates terrible scenes due to the bombardment in which aeroplanes have .participated. The streets wore strewn with corpses. Alany .were killed and wounded during the Government cavalry’s combats with the insurgents. The Dictator is General Caramoiia. He is carrying on an intensive aerial propaganda throughout the country. Planes are dropping proclamations declaring that the Government is sticking to its guns, and it is determined to triumph over a tew . malcontent soldiers led by a well-known conspirator and rebel,’ Dias. The dictatorship, lie says, will continue until a successor is legally provided. Caramonu threatens death to any citizens who support the rebels. The Government has suppressed three newspapers in Oporto and imprisoned the editors. Only the niiiiiulacture of dark bread is permitted to prevent profiteering. A United Press message from Madrid states: “ According to unconfirmed reporis from Portugal, the Portuguese licet, when off the Algarve coast, revolted. and is now steaming towards Lisbon to help the rebels.

NO DIRECT NEWS,

LONDON, February 9. Twenty-four hours have now passed without any direct news from Portugal hut the “Morning Post’s” Madrid correspondent, telegraphing yesterday evening says: '1 he Government has decided in consequence'of the attitude ol the discontented railway employees to place the State lines under military eon1, rol. the military are also the guardians of the Government offices in Lisbon, where the employees, excepting those of the War Alinistry, have abandoned work. Further arrests of journalists have been made, including the editors and others ol the “Debats.’ The information staffs and also some employees of the Post and Telegraph Deoartnlcnt have been arested for acclaiming the revolution. The correspondent affirms that contrary to the official reports, civilians did participate in the lighting in Oporto, throwing baud bombs at the Government troops. Some people appeared to run amok, attempting to kill without discrimination. A proposal by the Consul for Uruguay for’a n armistice was rejected by the Government, whose concentration of troops round Oporto continues. Ihe rebels are making every effort to hold the Bridge of Don Luis, connecting Oporto with the suburbs of Villa Nova de Gara on the left hank, hut the fire of the Government troops is becoming more intense. Travellers from Portugal affirm that the situation at Oporto is extremely difficult for the Government. The scents in the streets are truly terrible. Bitter encounters arc occurring between loyal and rebel troops. One eavalrv squadron was entirely annihilated.

NOT A MONARCHIST RISING. LONDON. Fchruarv 8

'l’lie host-informed circles in Madrid and Paris agree that the revolt is not directed towards a restoration of the Monarchy. On the contrary, it is considered a big democratic movement, the most important since the flight of King Manoel. on the 6th of October, 1910. Political parties for six years have been fighting each other, securing power in turn, after successive revolts and much blodoshed. 'I he most recent of these brought the leaders of the military caste into power, resulting in practically a dictatorial government, with General Caramona as President. Against his dictatorial policy, all the Republican Army as a whole is declared to he dissatisfied with the existing regime.

THE REBi' 1 tr'N l FF.STO. LONDON. February 8

The revolutionaries, in a manifesto declare that their aim is the restoration of the Republican constitution. ■The signatories include prominent persuch as Alvaro da Castro (Leader of the Republican Party, Norton da Mntton (formerly Ambassador in London! Alfonso da Costa (former leader of the Democratic Party and representative on the League of Nations) and General Sousa Diaz.

REBEL DEFEAT. LONDON. February 9. A British United Press message from Madrid reports that the rebels have been routed in Oporto. They have surrendered after a sixteen hours’ bombardment. MADRID, February 9. It is reported that the Portuguese War Minister, with the loyalist forces, oecunied Oporto vesterdav. LONDON. February 9. The “ Daily Mail ” says a private telegram from V?gu states the rebels are gaining ground in Lisbon, where the situation is reported to he vert serious.

BRITISH WARSHIPS MOVING. GIBRALTAR, February 8. The cruiser Comas has left for Lisbon. The destroyers Windsor ana Westminster are going to Oporto to protect British interests there.