AUDACIOUS PLOT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 143, 13 March 1931, Page 9

AUDACIOUS PLOT

Freedom for Spanish Rebel Prisoners GUARD ACTS SWIFTLY By Tdegraj*—AzeodstSo®— Copyright(R«e. Mart* 1», 8 P-m.) Madrid, March M. The presence in a Jaca hotel of twenty strangers calling themselves commercial travellers led to the discovery of an alleged audacious plot to free a number of prisoners awaiting trial for participation in the Jaca revolt. The rescuers planned to rush tne citadel and burn the building where the documents referring to the forthcoming trial were housed. They then proposed to overpower the guards at the French end of the Confranc tunnel, enabling the prisoners to escape into France. The authorities rushed in reinforcements of the Civil Guard, and prevented the attempt. Many arrests have been made. Early in December a military uprising took place at Jaca, Spain, but was speedily suppressed after the rebels han been met and routed by loyal forces while marching toward Huesca. The leaders of the Jaca rebellion—three young offleers—were shot, but the prune mover in the plot which affected Spain as a whole was Major Franco, who eseapea by aeroplane to Portugal. Jaca is near the French border, and, once through the tunnel, the prisoners referred to in tne latest message would have been eign sofi, and, for the time being, in safety. TRADE OPPORTUNITY Modem Progress in Spain . i An impression of modern Spain from the viewpoint of the tourist is given by Mr L. McKenzie, who, with his wife, is visiting that country for the second tL “The most striking improvement we have noticed since our last visit, be writes to a Wellington friend, is the wonderful improvement in th ® r ?“. d A’ For some years King Alfonso has to impress upon the local body authorities the advantages to be gained from tourist traffic, and has always claimed that Spain possesses a ate than that of the South of France. Attracting Tourists. “His advice has been taken, and Spain is now going to be a great country for the motorist, as excellent roads have been made. ~ , ... "The estates held by old families are very large, and one travels for many miles between each town. To overcome the lack of stopping places, neat little roadmen’s houses have been erecterl at given intervals along the road. These are white, and on. each side of them is printed the distance to the next town and the next city. , “There is one custom here we couto follow with advantage, and that is the planting of trees along the roads. 1 have been told that care has been taken to plant only such trees as will be suitable as timber for future building. * that were done in New Zealand the conntry would have a perpetual forest growing up that would be easily accessible for felling, prince; Wheat. “Ever since we have been in Spain the country has been under military government on account of the revolution. Yesterday (Sunday, January 18) we saw military control lifted and a return to civic law. A proclamation was read in the Seville Town Hall by the Military Governor, after which the troops marched to each point of vantage with fixed bayonets, and the officer in charge read the same proclamation to the people. “In regard to trade, I believe there is an opening here for butter, honey and cheese. Holland supplies these foods at present, but inquiry shows that our London prices are much more favourable. Nearly all the wheat is imported. Here is where Australia could slip in, but the only manner of trade possible would be bv an exchange of wheat for Spanish products, or on fair price contracts.