ISSUES AT STAKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 9

ISSUES AT STAKE

FUTURE OF COUNTRY FASCIST OR COMMUNIST INTERVENTION QUESTION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Times Cable LOXDOX, Jan. 3 A special correspondent of the Timesi, writing from the Spanish frontier, says it is entirely wrong to suppose that the defenders of Madrid are all Communists and their opponents all Fascists, though the influence of these groups on each side has been largely increased by foreign intervention. General Franco is not a Fascist, but represents Spaniards fighting for Spain. I ho Government represents Spaniards who desire to modernise Spain at the cost of all its traditions. No matter which 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wins, Spain will not long remain Fascist or Communist, but will return to her old ways immediately foreign influence is withdrawn.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. Intervention has been most marked around Madrid, where an aerial battle occurs almost daily between German Junkers and Russian bombers and fighting aeroplanes electrically controlled. German anti-aircraft guns have been used with terrible effect 011 Russian bombers. Foreign Powers Prolong the War Russians are pouring arms through Barcelona and Valencia, and have been directing the defence of Madrid for 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 among the Moorish troops have been overwhelming. 90 per cent of the original force having been killed. The rebels have not lost a battle except at Gi.ion, but General Franco's position is not sure. The loyalists are active at Gijon, Santander and Bilbao, while there is only a detachment of Germans to prevent the loyalists capturing North Vittoria. Government forces completely surround the rebel position at Teruel, which Germans are defending. Rebels' Summary of Position The insurgents, in a statement issued at Seville 011 the progress of the war to the end of 1936, claim to have possession of 32 out of 50 provinces. They give the rival forces at the beginning of the war as follows: Rebels, 40 battalions, 22 aeroplanes, one battleship and onn cruiser; Government, 52 battalions, 130 aeroplanes, one battleship, three cruisers, 13 destroyers and 12 submarines. The Government is in possession of nearly all the ammunition depots and factories.

In the course of the fighting the insurgents have lost a number of aeroplanes and destroyed 130. They have lost 10 guns and raptured 40. as well as thousands of rifles, millions of cartridges, many Russian tanks and other material. The Government has lost one destroyer, three submarines and one gunboat, while the insurgents' ships are intact. They have captured 10 Government cargo steamers, four of which were carrying war material. MALAGA BOMBED AIR RAID BY REBELS SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS MALAGA, Jan. 3 Nine three-engined rebel bombing aeroplanes swooped over Malaga at 1.30 p.m. to-dav and dropped bombs in a crowded district, killing many women and children. Fourteen corpses and many injured persons were removed from shattered and burning buildings. Hundreds of men are conducting rescue work and fighting fires. No bomb touched any military objective. AID FOR COMBATANTS ANGLO-FRENCH NOTE GERMAN REPLY AWAITED British Wireless RUOBY, Jan. 3 A conversation which the British Ambassador in Berlin, Sir Eric Phipps, had with the Foreign Minister, Baron von iseurath, is understood to have dealt mainly with the Spanish situation. There is reason to expect that the German reply to the recent British and French demarche on the subject of foreign volunteers enlisting in the Spanish civil war will be given within the next few days.

ITALIAN TROOPS LANDING AT CADIZ SIX THOUSAND FOR SEVILLE LONDON, Jan. 8 The Gibraltar correspondent of the BritisSi United Press reports that a usually well-informed source says 6000 fully-equipped troops landed at Cadiz, from Italian warships and lelt for Seville. Speculation is aroused by an "invasion" of Gibraltar by prominent Spaniards from Seville, where it is rumoured trouble is brewing.

rUHUMiieU LIUUUIO JO uiuii'HH. General Franco has commuted 70 death sentences to long-term imprisonment, says a message from Avila. GERMAN EXECUTED OFFICIAL INDIGNATION BERLIN. Jan. 3 "A cowardly murder after a mock trial" is how the official German news agency describes the execution of a German. Lot liar Gucdde, by Reds at Bilbao because lie was a member of a Spanish fascist organisation. It adds that Guedde was shot in November, and reliablo information, only now available, showed that before his death ho gave the Nazi salute and shouted: "Heil Hitler." A message from Bayonne says the Basque Government states that Gucdde was captured on the battlefront on October 5, and admitted having volunteered for the rebel Fascists, by whom he was made a corporal. He was sentenced to death on November 9, while 10 others, including another German, de Eupel, were sentenced to imprisonment for life for military rebellion.