PROSPECTS IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1937, Page 7

PROSPECTS IN SPAIN

BRIGHTER FOR GOVT.

TROOPS’ IMPROVEMENT

[by CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] LONDON, February 22. Mr Vernon Bartlett, who is revisiting Madrid, says in the “NewsChronicle”: “The Republicans greet sceptically the first day of the general ban on foreign volunteers. They fear that many more Italians and Germans will arrive to swell the insurgent forces. Nevertheless, I am impressed with the immense potential man power in the hands of the Government. The young men defending the Republican trenches have developed a sense of discipline of which there was no sign when I was in Madrid in October.

“Senor Miaja, commanding the Loyalist forces in Madrid, says that he can easily put 25,000 more well trained men in the.field if rifles and machine guns are --available. Madrid is not so near, to capture as many think. The Republicans should be victorious if the Government’s organising capacity and the people’s discipline survive the test of the coming week, for the spirit of Madrid remains amazing.” OVIEDO SURROUNDED. (Recd. February 23, Noon) MADRID, February 22. The Government claims to ’have renewed the offensive l at Oviedo, and have surrounded the city, penetrated the suburbs and captured the power station. RUSSIAN BAN. MOSCOW, February 21. , The Soviet has banned enlistments for war service abr.oad, including Spain. SUPERVISION SCHEME. RUGBY, February 22. The Chairman’s Sub-Committee of the International Non-Intervention Committee met at the Foreign Office. The Committee is expected to discuss the final details of the section of the scheme of supervision, including the allocation of zones among .the navies of Britain, France, Germany, Italy. Portugal and Russia. Further information might also be available for the Committee regarding discussions between the British and Portuguese respecting the special provisions for observation of the Portuguese frontier.