TROOPS REVOLT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1936, Page 5

TROOPS REVOLT

MOROCCAN CRISIS WIDESPREAD UNREST IN SPAIN. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Cup; right; MADRID, July 13. The Spanish Minister oi comm unit at* * ions, senior tie Dos Rios, annoum.es: A military rising has broken out in Meli ilia, m bpaiiisn Morocco." jtie claims tuat trie revolt is strictly limited to iVienlla and tuat complete tranquility prevails in bpam itself. it is reported tuat General feanjurgo, former Commander ot uie civil Guard ’ who was leader of the fedville revolt in 1932, heads the rebellion, which was arranged with three Generals and other omcers ot trie civil Guards at trie house of Senor Gil Robles, aiming at simultaneous risings in Morocco and ill the Canary Jsiaims, whence the rebels intended to embark tor Spain, where troops would join in. Tne report says that late Senor Sotelo, who wa s murdered recently, was to become President, and that murder was a cause enabling the Government to arrest ringleaders. It is reported from the border that the outbreak began when some legionaries were jeered at from the Socialist , headquarters at Melilla, whereupon the .Legionaries broke their ranks, entered the building and threw some of the occupants from the windows after a fierce hand to hand fight. Within an hour two thousand "Spanish and Moorish troops in the neighbourhood of Melilla had revolted. The movement spread like wildfire to Ceuta. Fighting has occurred »n the townj ships of Zoco, Jemis, Angera, Larache, Grzilla and Alksar, The opanish Government has issued a communique saying: The Government is master of tlie situation. It intends to maintain Republican, institutions, and has full faith in the army's loyalty. benur Moles, Minister of the Interior, declares tiie rebels ha\ e seized the radio station at Ceuta, from which they are issuing false news, purporting to come from tli e Government station at Seville including- the report that revolutionaries have occupeid the Ministeries in Madrid, seizing himself and the Minister of War. Senor Moles added that on the contrary, all was quiet in Madrid. Tlie Under-Secretary of tne Interior announced: The Foreign Legion at- 1 Ceuta, supported by native troops and by other units whose identity is so far not known, have attacked loyal troops, civilians and aerodromes, hut the movement is confined to Melilla and Ceuta troops. Air force and naval men are mobilising to fight the rebels, who are still in possession of strategical points. Two Spanish cruisers and a seaplane have gone to Melilla from Car tagena and Casablanca. CLASHES OCCUR IN SPAIN. MANY FASCISTS ARRESTED. f LONDON. July 18 What is actually happening in Spain is still obscure. Reports from Paris' state that the Cabinet met and sat all 'night. Trouble has long btji expected, especially in view of the numerous brutal murders committed, including those in the past fortnight. Fascists and Socialists have continually been attacking each other in the streets. The Governments has made wholesale arrests of Fascists since Senor Sotelo’s murder by Socialists. This has been owing to reports that a Fascist coup has been planned. The Right Wing newsnaeprs have indefinitely been suspenedd. It appears, however, that the trouble is confined to Melilla. There martial law has been declared. General Morato, who is Commander-in-Chiel' in Spanish Morocca is rush- ’ ing up. it is believed be will speedily suppress the rising. A broadcast, picked up from Madrid, stated that Army aircraft were bombing rebels both at Melilla and at Ceuta. | The revolt is reported to have affected several cities m Morocco. The rebels have occupied tlie military headquarters at Ceuta. The workers have declared a general strike. All of the shops there have closed. Transport has ceased, j Tangier is isolated. The mail boats j from Algecira s and Ceuut are not running. During violent clashes in Melilla, nine were killed and many were injured. All of the army officers above the rank of lieutenant at Labianna have been arrested, also all Fascists. The Lalines and Algeciras trains from Spain to France are hours late owing to the police searching them for alleged conspirators'. Many people are fleeing from Spain ■ owing to the unrest that is developing in North Spain also in Pamplona, Valladolid and Saragossa. Senor Moles, broadcasting late tonight, declared the Government was certain the rising would be restricted to its present small localities.