EARLY COLLAPSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21926, 9 October 1934, Page 9

EARLY COLLAPSE

CATALAN EEPUBLIC VICTORY NOT YET l-INAL RALLYING SOCIALIST FORCES GOVERNMENT IN CONTROL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 8. 8.50 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 8 The Lerroux Government apparently holds the upper hand, thanks to the loyalty of the bulk of the armed forces, but the strike continues and the revolt is still simmering. The rebels are doing their utmost to prolong the strike, and anarchists threaten a continuation of their reiga of terror to undermine the Government. The Catalan Republic collapsed ignominiously after a life of eight hours. It is understood that a court-martial is now sitting on a steamer in Barcelona harbour to deal summarily with charges of high treason against Senor Companvs and other provisional Catalan Ministers. Estimates of the Casualties The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Express states that at least 1000 are already dead and many thousands are lying wounded in crowded hospitals. The Madrid correspondent of th,e Daily Telegraph gives a more conservative estimate of 350 dead and 1200 wounded. Correspondents agree that the Government victory is not yet final. The official Socialist leaders have been arrested, are dead or are fleeing, but new leaders have rallied the Socialist forces in Madrid, where the struggle for the northern, railway station is going on. The firing could be heard in all parts of the citv. ' The revolt in the capital was based on the belief that the Barcelona venture was certain to succeed, but the Madrid revolt generally collapsed directly the Barcelona plans were doomed to failure. The Government is not losing time in consolidating the position in Madrid, Barcelona and Asturias. Troops and police have been instructed to crush mercilessly the slightest recurrence of revolt. Left Wing forces' are not unanimous in opposing the Government. Government Forces Mustered The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that Senor Companvs was apparently playing a double game, but himself was deceived by General Batet who, when asked to assist the rebels, said he required an hour in which to consider his decision. He utilised the hour to muster all the Government forces, with which he was victorious. Meanwhile, Senor Companvs broadcast the news that all Spain had risen against Senor Lerroux. Two hundred civil guards, using bombs, afterward captured the Barcelona wireless station to prevent the spread of tendencious reports. Shots struck the partition of the room in Madrid in which Senor Lerroux and other Ministers were planning against the rebels. The crackle of rifle and machine-gun fire was heard in the Daily Express office in London as the correspondent in Madrid telefihoned a description of the fighting. The indiscriminate nature of the street-shooting was indicated by the presence in the same mortuary of bodies of a policeman and a little girl.