PROBLEMS OF SPAIN.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2775, 17 October 1923, Page 7

PROBLEMS OF SPAIN.

WHY SHE IS NOT GREAT, OVERDOSE OF CRISES. , 16 GOVERNMENTS IN 14 YEARS. "The inconsistencies of the numerous political, military, economic, and social programmes of Spain have often proved a mystery to English' readers, and the present despatch is intended to explain the reasons for them," says the "Telegraph's" Spanish correspondent. "I shall show how it is that Spain is always confronted by the same problems as those of the day be. fore, and always seems unable to solve them. When a Government or an authority has studied a problem and adopted a programme, another Government or authority takes its place, the result* being that . every problem remains definitely in the preparatory stage.

FIFTEEN GOVERNMENTS. 'Since the year 1909, the date of the first events at Melilla, Spain has had no fewer than fifteen Governments, namely, those of Maura, Moret, Canalejas, Garcia, Prieto, Dato, Maura, Carcia Prieto, Romanones, Dato, Maura, Sanchez Toca, Allendesalazar, Sanchez Guerra, and Garcia Prieto. Since that date there have been the following Ministers of War: Linares, Luque, Ecliague, Primo de Rivera, Marina, Tovar, Aguilera, Villalba, Munoz Gabos. Cierva, Berenguer, Vizconde de Eza, Olaquer Feliu, Cierva, Alcala Zamora, and Aizpuru. The following have commanded in Africa during the same time:Generals Marina, Alfu, Jordana, Berenguer, and Burguete, until the high military command was transferred into a civilian office, and Don Luis Silvela was appointed High Commissioner AFTER 25 YEARS. . "During these years many generals have been in command at Laracho, Ceuta, and Mellila, the final result of it all being that the programme of each of the Governments, each of the High Commissioners, Ministers o.f War, and Commanders.in-Chief, was to do precisely the opposite to was accomplished by the preceding one. "This is the reason why, after a quarter of a century, Spain is still confronted with the same problems, and to such an extent is this true that newspapers articles published in 1900 could bo republished to-day, and still be topical. So far as Morocco is concorned, the newspaper literature of 1909 is precisely the same as that of the present moment. There are the same criticisms, the same deficiencies, and lack of organisation in the services, just as if time had stood still since July, 1909, when tho first events at Melilla took place, A journalist who had made a thorough study of Moroccan affairs said on one occasion that Spanish politicians had lost more time in making and unmaking programmes for Morocco than Penelope in weaving and unweaving her celebrated cloth.

NOBODY UNDERSTANDS. "Nobody in Spain can understand why is seems to be impossible, with more than 150,000 soldiers, to dominate a relatively small zone, less in size than the province of Badajoz; but nobody holds the army responsible for the failure, which is attributed to the lack of a programme, and, above all, to utter disorganisation, for the army has always gained the objectives which have been set before it. As a matter of fact, the disaster at Melilla was due to the absence of a programme, because, if there had been a carefully thought out plan after the taking of Abarran, Annul, Iqueriben, and Sidi. Dris, it would have been impossible for a few irregular guerillas to ■ drive a European army from its positions. But the advance was made without food, without water, without muni, tions, without anything except the bravery of the men, and in war something more than bravery is required. "At the present time Spain is in the same situation as she was in 1921, having to maintain a line of positions which begins at Melilla and ends at Tizzi-Azza —positions to which there has to be token even the wood for cooking the men's meals, as the country consists of nothing but racks and barren earth."