MILITARY REVOLT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 237, 20 July 1936, Page 5

MILITARY REVOLT

CONFLICT IN SPAIN AND MOROCCO

SEVERAL VIOLENT CLASHES

REPUBLICANISM OR FASCISM

STRIKES TO KILL MOVEMENT

A military revolt has taken place in Morocco and Spain. In Morocco conflicts have occurred between the insurgents and loyalist troops. The actual position is obscure at present, but reports from various centres indicate that the movement is being held in check. The Spanish Government, which had been only two months in office, resigned, the Premiership passing into two hands in the course of a few hours.

FOREIGN LEGION LEADS ACTION.

SOCIALIST JEERS RESENTED VIOLENT FATAL CLASHES. REPORT OF 20,000 INSURGENTS. United Press Association —Copyright! MADRID, July 18. A Government communique says that part of the army in Morocco has risen against the Republic, perpetrating a criminal act of rebellion against a legitimately - constituted power. The movement is exclusively limited to certain cities in the protectorate zone, and nobody in Spain has joined the absurd scheme.

FIGHTING IN TETUAN.

NINETEEN DEATHS RESULT.

On the contrary, Spaniards are unanimously indignant at the shameful act, which was frustrated from the outset. The Government is pleased to announce that heroic groups of loyal elements are resisting sedition and defending the Republic. Senor Juan Moles (Minister for the Interior) declared in a broadcast that the rebels had seized the radio station at Ceuta, from which they were issuing .false news purporting to come from the Government station at Seville, including, a report that revolutionaries had occupied the Ministries in Madrid, seizing himself and the Minister for War.

REBELS STILL HOLD CEUTA

Senor Moles added: “On the contrary, all is quiet in Madrid.”

THE MOVEMENT IN SPAIN.

The Under-Secretary for the Interior announced that the Foreign Legion at Ceuta, supported by native troops and other units whose identity so far is not known, attacked loyal troops, civilians and aerodromes, but the movement was confined to Melilla and Ceuta. Troops, the Air Force, and marines were mobilising to fight the rebels, who were still in possession of strategical points.

REPORTED TO BE WEAKENING.

Two Spanish cruisers and seaplanes have gone to Melilla from Cartagena and Casablanca.

Origin of Revolt.

It; is reported from the border that the outbreak began when the legionaries were jeered from the Socialist headquarters at Melilla ; whereupon the legionaries broke their ranks, entered the building, and threw some of the occupants from the windows after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. Within an hour 2000 Spanish and Moorish troops in the neighbourhood of Melilla had revolted. The movement spread like wildfire to Ceuta, and fighting occurred in the townships of Zoco, Jemis, Angero, Lamache, Arzilla and Alksar. Spain is still cut off from the world, but news from her neighbours suggest that the Republic is encountering another serious crisis. According to French reports, the legionaries, numbering 20,000, have occupied almost the whole of Spanish Morocco and have seized many garrisons. It is reported that General Sanjurgo, former commander of the Civil Guard and leader of the Seville revolt in 19.32, heads the rebellion, which was arranged with three generals and other officers of the Civil Guard at the house of Senor Gil Robles, aiming at simultaneous risings in Morocco and the Canary Islands, from where rebels intended to embark for Spain, where the troops would join in. Senor Calve Sotela, the monarchist leader, was to have become President. His murder last week caused a premature outbreak, enabling the Government to arrest the ringleaders. Meanwhile Tangier is isolated as mail boats from Algeciras and Ceuta are not running. During the violent clashes at Melilla nine were killed and many injured All army officers above the rank of lieutenant at Labianna were arrested, and also Fascists at 'Lalines and Algeciras. Trains from Spain to Franco were hours late, owing to the police search•ng for alleged conspirators among the many fleeing owing to the unrest developing in the north of Spain, and also in Pamplona, Valladolid and Saragossa. Senor Moles, broadcasting late tonight, declared that the Government was certain the rising would be restricted to the present small localities. A broadcast picked up in Paris from Madrid stated that army aircraft were

FUGITIVE FROM SPAIN.

bombing rebels at Melilla and Ceuta. A delayed message from Madrid reports that parties of Moroccan rebels are landing on the Spanish coast. A later message from Spain states that the Spanish. Government has issued a communique: “The Government is master of the situation, and intends to maintain Republican institutions, and' has full faith in the army’s loyalty.” Other messages reaching Paris from Spain declare that the incidents occurred at Cuena, 90 miles from Madrid. The number of victims is not yet known.

(Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) .PARIS, July 19. Reports from Tangier state .that 19 including two generals, were killed in fighting in Tetuan between rebel troops and supporters of the Popular Front Government. Thirty rebel officers have been arrested.

Ceuta last night was still in the hands of rebels. Government troops have landed.

GOVERNMENT CONTROLS COMMUNICATIONS. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) MADRID, July 19. It is now officially admitted that the rebel movement is not confined to Morocco. Another report says that while the rebel movement in Morocco and the Canaries persists, the movement inside Spain appears to be weakening. The Government retains control of communications, except the Seville wireless station. The Government has ordered the arrest of several generals, including General Franco, Governor of the Canary Islands. Senor Azana signed a decree disbanding all army units that took part in the revolt. Leftists, in a broadcast statement with the Government’s permission, assured the Government of their support.

RISING AT BARCELONA. TROOPS DECLARE MARTIAL LAW. “A CRUEL ATTACK” REPULSED. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) MADRID, July 19. A broadcast admits a military rising at Barcelona. It says that soldiers took possession of the streets after declaring martial law. Storm Guards repulsed an attack, which was at times “cruel.” The Air Force remained loyal and assisted the loyal elements against the rebels.

ONE OF FOUNDERS OF REPUBLIC.

POLICE ESCORT TO FRONTIER. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LISBON, July 19. Senor Lerroux, an ex-Prime Minister and one of the founders of the Spanish Republic, who was responsible for the arrest or Senor Azana. last year, has arrived here. He crossed the frontier in a .motor car escorted by a car containing Portuguese police.

MOB LAW

ON GIBRALTAR FRONTIER.

A Gibraltar message says that after a period of mob law near the Spanish border, in which houses and cars were burnt, two British destroyers are standing by in the event of necessity for the evacuation of British subjects, some of whom have already left their summer residences in Spanish territory

CHALLENGED BY RIFLE FIRE.

REFUGEES ON THE FRONTIER.

SPANISH CABINET RESIGNS.

ANOTHER PREMIER IN OFFICE.

STRONGLY ANTI-FASCIST.

LONG EXPECTED TROUBLE.

HOUSES AND CARS BURNED. BRITISH SUBJECTS LEAVING. WARSHIPS STANDING BY. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) MADRID, July 18. General Cabanellis, commandant of the Madrid garrison, has been dismissed. Loyal troops are temporarily in the ascendant in the hinterland.

and taken refuge at Gibraltar. The rebels at the Canary Islands besieged the Civil Governor and several members of the Cabinet in the Governor’s palace. , The Las Palmas Workers’ Union declared a general strike in support of the Government.

A WARNING AT GIBRALTAR. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) GIBRALTAR, July 19. From to-day the British police are warning British subjects that it is dangerous to proceed beyond the frontier town of La Linea. * A large car containing Spanish refugees was challenged by the Spanish guards. The occupants fired, with the result that the guard closed the frontier gates. All cars leaving Spain are now challenged by rifle fire.

EX-LINOTYPE OPERATOR AS PREMIER. NO SOCIALISTS INCLUDED, (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) MADRID, July 19. Senor Cuirogas’ Cabinet has resigned. A new Government has been formed, headed by Senor Martinez Barrio, a former linotype operator, and Speaker of the Cortes, who founded the Republic Union Party. Socialists are excluded from Senor Barrio’s Cabinet, which with five exceptions is the same ns the previous one.

(Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) MADRID, July 19. The Republican ex-Minister of the Navy, Senor Jose Garal, a Cuban-born professor of chemistry, lias superseded Senor Barrio, who resigned the Premiership. General Sebistiano Pozas, the new Minister of the Interior, announced that the Government is strongly antiFascist.

SPEEDY SUPPRESSION LIKELY. LONDON, July IS. What is actually happening in Spain is still obscure, but reports from Paris state that Cabinet met all night. The trouble was long expected, especially in view of the numerous brutal murders in in last fortnight, Fascists and Socialists continually attacking each other in the streets. The Government has made wholesale arrests of Fascists since the murder of Senor Sotelo, owing to reports that a Fascist coup was being planned. Right Wing newspapers have been indefinitely suspended. It appears, however that, the trouble is confined to Melilla, where martial law has been declared. The former Minister for Communications (Colonel Elitila) revolted with the troops of the Melilla garrison. The general in. command surrendered. General Morato (Commander-in-Chief in Spanish Morocco) is rushing up. it is believed that he will speedily suppress the rising.