FRANCO'S PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 11

FRANCO'S PLANS

CONSULAR BAG SECRETS _ % NUMEROUS ARRESTS PLOTTERS AT BURGOS EXECUTION OF SUSPECTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 22, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22 In connection with the discovery of incriminating papers in a British Consular bag from San Sebastian, reported on Tuesday, the police are of the opinion that a Spaniard at the British Consulate placed certain plans in the attache case of Mr. Harold Goodman, British Vice-Con-sul. It is understood that tho plans disclosed that General Franco was planning to throw 500,000 men into a final offensive. Already 200 people have been arrested. They are to bo tried by courtmartial. t A Frenchwoman and a Spanish youth, members of Mr. Goodman's staff, are among those who havo been arrested and also an English messenger and his wife, who were attached to Sir Robert Hodgson's delegation at Burgos, says the special correspondent of the Daily MaiL The messenger was previously King Alfonso's head racehorse trainer. It is stated by the Hendaye correspondent of the British United Press that another anti-Franco plot is centred in Burgos. It is reported that 705 arrests have been made and that several officers, including two colonels and one major, have been executed. These events were a sequel to raids throughout the city on December 3 and the rounding up of plotters who were organising a military uprising to overthrow General Franco. All tho officers involved were executed. There is growing war weariness in Spain and resentment against the interference of Italian and German staff officers in domestic affairs, says tho Hendaye correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph. The slogan "Spain for the Spaniards" is increasingly heard. Two hundred arrests at San Sebastian arose largely from anti-Italian feeling, which led to the wounding of the secretary to tho Italian Consul.

REBELS' STATEMENT DENIAL OF REVOLT PARIS REPORTS DIFFER OUTBREAKS IN GARRISONS Independent Cable Service LONDON. Dec. 21 General Franco's news agency in London says the reports of tho revolt centred in Burgos are untrue and are based on the fact that there have been numerous arrests in the frontier zone for smuggling and other illegalities. 4 A message from Paris, however, says it is learned from a most reliable source tbat revolts, which were well planned, broke out in the garrisons at Saragossa, Segovia, Pamplona, Soria and several other cities in General Franco's Spain, where more than 1000 officers and non-commissioned officers were arrested.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE EX-KING'S CONTRIBUTION FRANCO OPPOSES MEDIATION Independent Cable Service LISBON. Dec. 21 Messages from 'Burgos state that ex-King Alfonso of Spain has given 1000 pesetas to tho fund for social assistance. The official press states that General Franco is refusing all suggestions of mediation or an armistice whether by tho King or others. 1