THREATS TO SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1941, Page 7

THREATS TO SPAIN

GERMAN PREPARATIONS

STORES THROUGHOUT LAND

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, April 24.

Everything points to Germany having begun her old familiar methods of persuasion and infiltration in Spain. Observers arriving in Lisbon from Madrid state that German diplomacy has ended its period of cajoling and reached the stage of threats because of the failure of efforts to induce General Franco to allow Germans to traverse his country to Gibraltar. The opinion is growing that Herr Hitler is not prepared to wait much longer. The Lisbon correspondent of “The Times” says it is believed that at least 2500 Germans are in Madrid and there is also little doubt that aerodromes throughout the country, particularly in the south, have a’ full complement of German ground staffs and supplies. Furthermore, it is known that large German dumps <. f food and petrol are in strategic, positions in a country virtually starving. The key to the situation in Spain is the rapid development. of the Balkans campaign which Senor Suner, the Spanish Foreign Minister, is able to use in order to support his “case.” In spite of Jugoslavia’s collapse, a large section in Spain would resist a German incursion. The Ankara radio quoted a special correspondent in Berlin as saying that it must be expected in the very near future that Spain would adhere to the Axis and that a military move would be made against Portugal.

GIBRALTAR’S DEFENCE.

RUGBY, April 25.

Although the political situation in Madrid is obscure, evidence is accumulating that an important factor in its development is the increasing pressure the Germans are exerting on Spain to show more active participation with the Axis. It would appear that the Falange extremists in Spain are proving ready tools for German propaganda, and one of the many reports current is that the immediate purpose of the pressure from within and without is the removal of General Franco, whose policy of non-involvment m the war had, with the general approval of the Spanish people, been steadily pursued. . There is no confirmation in London of some of the more categorical, reports of these German activities, including a demand for a passage <.O give the Germans a diversion through Spain to Gibraltar and the accession of Spain in the Tripartite. Pcict Meanwhile, it is noted that_ relations between Britain and Spain are proceeding smoothly. Meanwhile, the Moscow radio reports that the transformation of Gibraltar into an island is almost complete. Canadian soldiers are finishing the digging of ai moat the Nech promontory which is 13 feet wide and 10 feet deep and filling it with water. Hospital and other n - stallations have been transferred underground rooms hewn out ot rock. New guns, including very hea. y ones have been placed in position. Ships with war materials are arriving every day. LORD GQRT AS GOVERNOR. RUGBY, April 25. The Colonial Office the appointment of Lord Gort to be Governor and Commander-m-Chief at Gibraltar, in succession to Geneiai Liddell, who has been appointed inspector of Training in Britain.