After the War

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 7

After the War

SPAIN FOR THE SPANISH, IS AN OBSERVER’S VIEW.

NEITHER FASCIST NOR COMMUNIST.

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.

LONDON, Jan. 3.

A special representative of The Times on the Spanish frontier says it is entirely wrong to suppose that the defenders of Madrid are all Communists and their opponents all Fascists. The influence of these groups on each side is -largely increased by foreign intervention. General Franco is not a Fascist but represents Spaniards fighting for Spain. The Government represents Spaniards who desire to modernise Spain at tho cost of all its traditions. Whichever side wins, Spain will not long remain Fascist or Communist, but will return to her old ways immediately foreign influence is withdrawn. The new Spain will be a Spain for the Spanish. Foreign intervention is most marked around Madrid, where an air battle occurs almost daily between German Junkers machines and Russian bombers and fighting aeroplanes electrically controlled. German anti-aircraft guns are used with terrible effect on the Russian bombers. The Russians are pouring arras through Barcelona. Valencia has been directing the defence of Madrid during the past few weeks.

The war would have ended long ago had Spain been left to herself. Foreign Powers have turned the civil war into one between Fascism and Communism.

The casualties of the Moorish troops are overwhelming, and 90 per cent, of the original force have been killed. The rebels have not lost a battle except at Gijon, but General Franco’s position is not sure. The loyalists are active at Gijon, Santander, and Bilbao. Government troops completely surround the rebel position at Teruel, which German-? are defending. Malaga Bombed. Nine three-engined rebel bombing aeroplanes swooped down on the city of Malaga at 1.30 p.m. to-day and dropped bombs in a crowded district, killing many women and children. Fourteen corpses and many injured were removed from shattered and burning buildings. Hundreds of men are conducting rescue work and fighting fires. No bombs touched any military objective.

Death Sentence Commuted AVILA, January 3. General Franco has commuted seventy death sentences to long terms of iin prisonment. “ Cowardly Murder After Mock Trial ” BERLIN, January 3. “Cowardly murder after a mock trial,” is how an official news agency describes the execution of the German, Lothar Guedde, by Reds at Bilbao, because he was a member of a Spanish Fascist organisation. The agency adds that Guedde was shot in November, but reliable information is only now available. Before his death ho gave the Nazi salute and shouted 1 Heil Hitler.” BAYONNE, Jan. 3. The Basque Government states that Guedde was captured on the battle front on October 5 and admitted that he had volunteered to fight for the rebel Fascist forces, in which he was made a corporal. He was sentenced to death on November 9 with ten others, including a German named de Eupel, who sentenced to life imprisonment for military rebellion. British Protest SHOTS AT THE BLACKHILL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 3. The British Ambassador to Spain, who- is at Hendaye, has been instructed to call the attention of the Burgos authorities to the incident in which the British steamship Blackhill, of Newcastle, was involved on Friday. While on passage in ballast from Bayonne to Santander to load iron ore for the Tyne, the Blackhill was fired on by a trawler, which is reported to have been a Spanish insurgent vessel. Sixteen shots were fired, but all fell short, and the Blackhill easily outdistanced her pursuer into Santander. Sir Henry Chilton, in view of reports that the trawler belonged to the insurgent forces, will protest to the authorities at Burgos against its action.

Mexico Bars Shipment Of American Munitions

Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. MEXICO CITY, Jan. 4.

As a means of co-operating with President Roosevelt in the good neighbour policy President Cardenas has ordered customs officials to bar the shipment of United States war materials through Mexican ports to Spain. Meanwhile at Washington the Acting-Secretary of State (Mr. Moore) said that the Mexican action, was purely voluntary and was not the result of any protest from the United States. He praised President Cardenas’ action and observers termed the incident a concrete proof of the value of the recent Buenos Aires Conference.