“WE HAVE WON THE WAR.”

Evening Star, Issue 22938, 21 April 1938, Page 10

“WE HAVE WON THE WAR.”

General Fhaxcisco Franco claims to have won the civil war in Spain, and, although his loyalist opponents indignantly deny that the conflict is nearing its end m the insurgents’ favour, he seems to have accumulated sufficient practical evidence to indicate that there are grounds for his jubilation. Commencing his campaign with obvious territorial disadvantages but with the support of Moorish mercenaries and, later, of sympathetic Fascists and some Nazi mechanical equipment, General Franco gradually ousted the Government troops from stronghold' after stronghold, Madrid alone putting up a stiff) and prolonged resistance. From the fact that the loyalists early in the war had most of the industrial areas at their disposal it must be conjectured that, despite the stern defence of Madrid, they have been fighting a losing battle all along. One by one the important centres of industry have slipped into Franco's grasp until now only Catalonia lies between llepublicani Spain and defeat. Will Catalonia stand the strain ? This is a matter for considerable doubt. The Catalans have the name of being less dashing in attack but more solid in defence than the southern Spaniards, but, although it may be -that the end is not so near as the Nationalist leader imagines, there is every sign of an eventual victory for Franco and his Fascist allies. On looking back over the history of this depressing and sanguinary civil war, military-minded readers must have been struck by the apparent case with which the Nationalist forces have held the territory wrested from the Government troops. This phenomenon cannot be altogether due to the foreign help that is being given to the insurgent general. It would seem that a preponderating section of the Spanish public is either unusually apathetic or else definitely pro-FTanco. Had the Government commanded the greater measure of active loyalty and had such provinces .as Catalonia come to its aid early enough to turn defence into attack General Franco might have met his Waterloo long ago.

However, the problem facing the unhappy Spanish people is most likely born of the truth that at heart they are neither Fascist nor Communist. They have a strong individualist streak which may in the long run help them to settle down to the comparative comfort of a democratic republic, even if a bias in certain quarters towards Socialism causes a measure of internal political dissension. What will happen if General Franco wins the conflict? Whatever promises the rebel leader is holding out at the. present time there is little doubt that a military dictatorship can be expected. Then there will be a likelihood that Spain will sit back and wait for Franco and his allies to quarrel among themselves. Europe as a whole will be interested in this. Many observers of the international scene refuse to believe that either Germany or Italy will be content with the “ glory ” of having assured a Fascist victory. If Italy in particular demands concessions that embarrass Great Britain’s position in the Mediterranean the greatest test of the worth of the Anglo-ltalian agreement will have come. At the moment, however, Italian good faith will have to be presumed. The problem of Spain may well be solely Spanish. In that ease the difficulties will be grim enough to suit Franco even in his most energetic mood. His followers' include Fascists, Clericals, Monarchists, Carlists, and several minor oddments. He will have a big task on hand to achieve a satisfactory spirit of harmony between Monarchists and Carlists alone. Whether Franco is right or wrong in his political ideas and actions, there appears to be little chance that bloodletting will cease in Spain if his present martial ambitions are realised. When the Madrid Government was. ejected to power by the people it lost a wonderful opportunity to settle Spain’s destiny through its failure to set itself up at once as a moderate Socialist regime and ignore the promptings of Red propaganda. The influence of Communistic extremists with their diabolical penchant for conspiracy. political murders, awl attacks on religion has played no small part in the preparation of the Spanish blood bath..

Tlic ‘ Evening Star ’ will not be published on Monday next —Anzao Day. The first issue of the ‘ Evening Star's ’ ‘ Sport’s Special ’ will be published on Saturday night at 7 o’clock. It will contain a number of new features that should enhance its already sound reputation and large circulation. Tlie purely sports section will be supplemented by an attractive magazine page for which a whole seiies of special articles of widely; differing character has been secured, covering Graphically topics in which everyone is nuerested. For instance, ‘ Mayfair.’ written by one of London’s foremost “ front page ” journalists, tells in racy fashion how the “ gentle grafter ” in the metropolis makes only a fair liyitiG on commission tor the big “racket ” organisers. The serial story this year is ‘ Lone Hand Laracy, a verv powerful tale of the hero-villain typo of bushranger, with a rich vein of love romance threaded through the “ gun-smoke ” sensations.

Now 90 years of age. Mr George Hatcher, of Dunedin, made his first flight over the city and suburbs yesterday in an Otago Aero Club machine, joining the ranks of the oldest to have been flown by the club pilots. Mr Hatcher undertook the ascent at his expressed desire, and was piloted by Mr ,\ w Phillips, in the Moth machine zk-\CE On landing Mr Hatcher said he had enjoyed the trip immensely; he was in the air for about -Omni.

The following nominations have been received for the St. Clair School Committee:—Messrs A. Tnggs, D. lame, Q S Warwick, E. 11. Gnndley, M. A. Robson, C. N. Bond, N. D Anderson, L Dunn and V. Roberts. As the nominations only equal the number required no election will be necessary

A Press Association telegram from Wellington stat-s that the Miuister-m-Charee of Scenery Preservation (Hon. F. Langstonc) announced yesterday that a fine area of native bush' had been o-iven to the Government as a public reserve by Mr H. M. Hayward and Mrs Hayward, of Lower Hutt. Ihe area, which will be known as Hayward Park comprises about 43 acres, and is verv’close to the Hutt and Petpne boroughs. It contains a splendid variety of native flora.

Light and medium sorts in the fat sheep sale at Burnside yesterday barely held l?st week’s rates. Values were, for extra prime heavy wethers, to £1 12s 9d; prime, from £1 5s to £1 8s; medium, £1 2s (id to £1 4s; light and unfinished, from 19s to £1 Is 6d; extra prime heavy ewes, from £1 to £1 2s Gd; medium, from las to 18s; and light, from 10s 6d to 13s. Values for heavy lambs were firmer by fully Is a 'head. Quotations were for prime heavy lambs, to £1 9s 6d; prime medium, £1 2s Cd to £1 4s 9d; prime light, from £1 0s 6d to £1 2s 3d; and light and unfinished sorts, from 16s to 18s.

With the opening of Labour’s local body election campaign last evening came a reference to the machinations of the Press, the chairman of the meeting at the Holland Memorial Hall (Mr W, Inglis) issuing a dark warning to electors to beware of the lt mutilation of candidates’ speeches in the “ secret chambers.” “In the past we have had reports, but not reports of what has been delivered from the platform,” declared Mr highs. “We don’t blame the reporters—they have only their iobs to do, and they do them well. But it is when their reports get in the secret chambers that the mutilation takes place. I want to warn you against the whispering that will start. Como and hear the candidates for yourselves, and don’t listen to Toni, Dick, and Harry! ” The shortage in the quota of Rarotongan bananas by the Matua will not have any effect ml the South Island trade, stated a leading fruiterer today. Supplies of Samoan and Niue Island bananas came to hand by the Maui Pomare before Easter, and another consignment which arrived by the Matua is due here on Monday. Bananas are fairly plentiful at present, and reasonably priced. At the first meeting of the kind held by tho No. 1 Licensing Authority district carriers and interested parties met at Ngaruawahia in an effort to fix a scale of carrying charges to apply to the' whole of the Raglan county. The authority, Mr E. J. Phelan, gave the parties an opportunity to settle the matter between themselves at a conference at which he was not present, but as no agreement could be reached, the authority will now fix the scale of charges Mr Phelan that the meeting was of great importance, as the scale arrived at in the Raglan area would be used as a basis in framing the schedules for the_ other districts. —Hamilton Press Association.

The Education Department intimated to the Otago Education Board this morning that it had approved of a proposal under which pupils in the city schools were invited to write a 100-word radio announcement stressing the value of apples for health purposes. The four best in each city school would read their announcements over the air. The board’s approval of the idea was given. There were no cases to come before the Police Court to-day.

The postal authorities advise that the Pakeha left Newcastle for Bluff on Tuesday with five bags of Australian mail for Dunedin, which should be to hand on Monday. Owing to Anzac Day falling on Monday, the chief postmaster has obtained special authority to close the Australian and north mails at 12.15 a.m. that day instead of 8 p.m. on Saturday night. At the meeting of the Otago Education Board this morning a communication was received from the Education Department intimating that consideration was being given to the establishment of two additional special classes in Dunedin in order to cater more adequately for those pupils who were not able to make normal progress under ordinary class room conditions. Caversham was suggested for one centre and George Street for a further centre. The Chief Post Office is the building most patronised of any by the public in Dunedin. Its treatment, therefore, is a significant criterion of the community’s respect for property. The Post Office has now been opened a year —since April li last —and it is a stimulating fact that there has not been one case of serious vandalism. The building is certainly closely patrolled, but the Chief Postmaster (Mr N. R. M'lsaac) bolds that the reason for its clean condition is that Dunedin people are proud of the Post Office. The only defacement of any of the Walls is at the entrance to a vestibule, some irresponsible person having smeared a line of grease for a short distance. Although no questions were asked of the candidates at the meeting addressed by the mayor and Mr (R, Walls at Mornington last night, one of the audience indulged in a short speech in which he rather disagreed with the mayor in his suggestion that a recreation area should be formed at Anderson’s Bay, which, said the speaker, “ was not a Labour district.” Mr Cox diplomatically replied that even if every resident of Anderson's Bay voted against Labour the district would he given any facilities necessary to the convenience of. the people generally.

A deputation representing the" WatUoualti School Committee waited upon the Otago Education Board at its meeting this morning with a view to ascertaining the attitude of th« board in respect of the state of thJe school grounds, which, said the delegation, were still in an unfinished condition, aid, in view of the coming winter, it was very desirable that urgent actioi should be taken. The board assured the deputation that it would do its best to carry out any practicable improvements as expeditiously as possible.Though this morning there was a gain of about 1,230,000 gillons of water in the reservoirs of the qty on yesterday’s figures, this increase will not have any effect upon tie restrictions imposed on the use of vater in Dunedin —the supply is still some 77 million gallons below the total storage necessary before they can be lifted. Recent rainfall has not been of sufficient heaviness or duration tj make up the deficiency to any great extent; and it will require a more prolonged period of steady rain to bring the storage of the reservoirs to the desired point. Leslie Eric Smith (if), a mechanic, was sentenced an adlitional term of ]4 days in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington to-day oi a charge of escaping from custody. The police stated that Smith, it company with four other prisoner/, was taken, to the hospital for treatment, and escaped. He was arrested one and a-half hours later. In his evideipe, Smith said he went to a friend’s luuse to obtain the money to pay the fim, for non-payment of which he was imprisoned. The Magistrate said the prison authorities would have given him every opportunity to obtain the money .—Press Association. In connection with the final day of the trotting meeting at Christchurch on Saturday, April 23, the railway Department is attaching car accomnodation to the goods train scheduled to leatc Dunedin for Christchurch at 9.50 p.m. b-morrow. See advertisement in this issue r.yo strain—for ep comfort, for belter vision, consult Sturiler and Watson Ltd., opticians, 2 Octagon Dun.edin.—C Adyt,}