SPAIN’S ARTILLERY CORPS DISBANDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 595, 22 February 1929, Page 9

SPAIN’S ARTILLERY CORPS DISBANDED

DICTATOR BREAKS RANKS OF HIS FOES IN NATIONAL ARMY (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON. Thursday. A message from Hendaye, Spain, says the disbandment of the artillery corps has been carried out there. AH the garrison’s colours and equipment have been handed over to the infantry. Communications with Madrid and Ponte Vedra are interrupted. There are rumours of incidents at .Vigo. A message from Madrid says the decree dissolving all the artillery corps, which were responsible for the recent revolt at Ciudad Real, was gazetted yesterday. The officers have temporarily been reduced to civilian rank and ordered to go to their homes without pay until the corps are reconstituted in July. Officers whose commissions are confirmed in July will be obliged to take an oath of fidelity to the constituted Government. The decree urged loyal officers to apply for the reinstatement of their corps. The dissolution of the Spanish Artillery Corps for the second time within three years has made a profound impression throughout Spain. The Madrid correspondent of “The Times” says it remains to be seen whether it will be carried out without incident.

The “Daily Mail’s” Madrid correspondent said it was only after prolonged discussions that the King consented to sign the decree abolishing the corps, whose officers had been in conflict with the Dictator, General Primo de Rivera, ever since he seized power in 1923. The strength of the Spanish Army is 200,000. There are 158 regiments, of which 37 are artillery. General de Rivera rose to power through the infantry, which throughout has been loyal..