COUNTER-REVOLUTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 217, 12 September 1911, Page 5

COUNTER-REVOLUTION.

STRUGGLE IN PORTUGAL READY FOR A BATTLE. TROOPS MASSED ON FRONTIER. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 8.5 a.m.) LISBON, September 11. The counter-revolution organised by tho Portuguese Royalists against the new Republic has reached an acute stage, and a big battle is anticipated shortly, the armies of both sides being massed on tho frontier. The Government army, 4000 strong, and armed with 20 field and mountain guns, is awaiting an attack by the Monarchists, whose forces are estimated at 5000, while they have 40 guns, mostly Maxims. Two aeroplanes belonging to tho Monarchists are constantly flying over the Republican. camp, which is situated at Chaves, a few miles from the northern frontier of Portugal. The delay in the attack is attributed to the belief that the Monarchists are awaiting half a million sterling from England.

Ever since the short, sudden, aad successful revolt which cost Dom Manuel the throne, the Royalists have been actively engaged in their campaign to promote the cause of the Monarchy. Several plots were discovered in Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto, and the alleged ringleaders were arrested and punished. It has been freely asserted by the Republicans that the campaign was being engineered by Manuel's retinue in England, and in proof of this there was an almost daily passage of officers from England ■and Paris through San Sebastian in Spain towards the northern frontier of 'Portugal, where one section of the •Royalist force was encamped, the other •being in the vicinity of Badajoz. Portuguese officers who had emigrated into Spain published practically every day subversive proclamations, which they sent into Portugal, and in Portuguese towns close to Spain small collisions constantly took place between the Monarchists and the Republicans. The Spanish Government attempted to maintain absolute neutrality, and to prevent the organisation of any kind of plots on the frontier. Cavalry were ordered to exercise vigilance on the frontier, and to prevent armed groups from passing in either direction. The situation has •been very critical on the border for the last two months. It was generally •believed that a revolutionary movement was imminent, as much excitement reigned among the two opposing factions. Outsiders found it extremely difficult to gauge the exact situation, as everybody had a different tale to tell. The Republicans said that the movement was fictitious, and was promoted by the m-oney which was expended with lavish hand toy the agents of Dom Manuel. On the other hand, the Monarchists averred that the whole country was with them and hated the Republic, whieli brought about nothing but a state of complete anarchy. The Monarchists declared that the counter-revolu-tion would be sharp and sanguinary, as they were determined to fight until they triumphed. The Government declared last week .that its prepartions to meet the movement were such, that IE would not reach the dignity of Tl skirmish, but this view seem-3, in the light oi to-day's information, to have been a little optimistic.