CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 26 November 1936, Page 3

CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN

GENERAL FRANCO’S FINAL WARNING MADRID. November 23. Startling Madrid with the earlines? of the attack, three rebel bombers, escorted by fighting aeroplanes, appeared at 8.15 a.m. to-day and dropped incendiary bombs. One bomb landed in the courtyard of the War Ministry, set fire to five motor-cars, and injured foui men. Another just missed the offices of the defence junta. Almost immediately a terrific artillery battle began, and it was still raging this afternoon. General Franco has uttered a final warning to Madrid to surrender. This warning, it is believed, is the prelude to a decisive attack. It is reported from Valencia that the loyalists have occupied important positions south of Madrid. Efforts are now being made to evacuate civilians from the capital, and taxis and motor-cars have been organised for this work. It is hoped to case the food situation, which is beginning to cause suffering among civilians. Irishmen in Action A day’s desultory fighting at the barricades and defending the bridgeheads and other quarters amid gales amT mud has not changed the general situation. The loyalists claim to have repulsed a rebel attack at the northwest of the city, capturing two tanks. In this encounter the International Column, including former members of the Irish Republican Army, behaved most gallantly. The rebels recommenced the bombardment in the afternoon, the shells falling in the centre of the city. The Government has ordered the evacuation of the German Embassy within 24 hours, resulting in the immediate departure of a few German refugees. Two hundred Americans are hastening to the coast in motor-cars after the decision to close the American Embassy. The Prime Minister (Senor Caballero) denied reports that he intended to establish a Soviet regime, adding that the Government’s primary objective was the maintenance of a democratic parliamentary Republic in accordance with the constitution. The party of members of the House of Commons arrived and conferred with the Foreign Minister (Senor del Vayo) who, according to the British United Press, showed them obsolete AustroHungarian and French notes found on a ?«foorish prisoner, which had been given to the Moors as pay. The Moors were told that they could spend the money in Madrid at the week-end. Avila bankers express the opinion that the Government has sent £lOO.000,000 in gold to France, the majority of which has gone on to Russia in pay meat for munitions. BRITAIN WILL TA KF, NO PART MR EDEN REAFFIRMS POLICY

RUGBY, November 23. | The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A.! Eden), in reply to a question in the ; House of Commons, said that the policy > of his Majesty’s Government was to j take no part in the Spanish war and i to give no assistance to either side. j His Majesty’s ships would, should it ‘ prove necessary, protect British m-: r- i chan, ships on the high seas against interference by the ships of either party engag< d in the conflict in Spain outside the three-mile limit. At the same time, it was not the intention of the Government that British shipping ; should carry war material from any foreign port to any port in Spain. Mr Eden was asked whether British ships would be handicapped in relation I to the ships of other countries. He re- I plied that it was not a question of . handicap: it was a question of carry- . ing out the policy of the Government. I Mr Eden said that the British and | French Governments were in close | touch on all questions arising out of ! the present situation in Spain. POSITION IN SPAIN INTERVENTION PROBLEM Tracing the rise of the present trouble in Spain. Dr. Guy Scholefield, •luring an address to Rotarians at Wellington, on Tuesday, remarked that the ferocity and barbarism at present be ing displayed, terrible as it was, was nothing new to the Spaniards, who for a verv long time had been schooled to endure hardships and cruelty. When the Republic came into being in 1931, there were some ni power who really wanted some democratic system of Government like that in Great Britain. A lot of laws were passed, disestablishing the Church and sub-dividing the land, but not enough support was received to enable them to be carried out. The legislation was not put fully into effect, and the only sub-division of land which took place was what the peasants took themselves. After this year’s elections, the extreme Deft insisted upon the Government implement ing its policy, and it became a question of Fascists on one side and the extreme Left on the other. It was some time before the parties aligned themselves and to start with it 'was difficult to see whose- light it was. Now that it was a question of helping one side or the other, or else of keeping dear altogether, several difficult problems arose. Normally, out shir nations, if helping either side, would support the existing Government. It had soon become evident that »n Rpain the conflict lay between Fascism ami Democracv. and outside sympathies had been split in • two camps. It was obvious that any intervention at all would set ail Europe r blaze, and that was as true to-day as it was a few months ago. It v.-.is clear that both sides wire getting arn>. although from what sources was not mentioned. The question arose whether Great Britain could keep out and keep others out. From the traditional point of view and normallv she would support the Loyalists or the present Govern1. h n t the rebels’ policy, with the of the Church, monarchy.

and aristocracy, might command more popular support. If by a miracle the present Government triumphed over the rebels, there would ensue a Government something along the lines of that in Russia, and that would not be popular from our point of view. Public opinion, in England, concluded Dr. Scholefield, still favoured the Left, but whether effect would be given to this was another thing. So far we had . i Utnaged to keep out and to keep others out. but the next few weeks would bo a time of great danger. I