UNREST IN SPAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 4063, 26 January 1932, Page 23

UNREST IN SPAIN.

“ REDS ” AND ROYALISTS CLASH SPANISH REPUBLICANS SHOT. MADRID, January 19. Following an altercation between royalists and young republican workers at Bilbao, in which four republicans were shot dead, a general strike has been declared and the city is paralysed, traffic and business being at a standstill. ASSAULTS INCREASING. MADRID, January 19. Following the proclamation of a general strike at Bilbao, “ Reds ” and Royalists clashed at night. The workmen attempted to sack the Catholic newspaper Gaceta Del Norte and shot the doorkeeper. They subsequently attempted to set fire to a convent, but were repulsed by armed Royalists, with several casualties. Troops guarded the principal religious buildings. The Communists marched to the prison and forced the authorities to release two of their comrades, and carried them shoulder high to another prison, demanding the release of all prisoners. The authorities fired and repulsed them. At Valencia incendiaries attempted to set fire to churches and convents. Twenty thousand textile workers struck in Barcelona. Assaults and robberies in Madrid are increasing.

THE STRIKE EPIDEMIC

TAKING A REVOLUTIONARY TURN. MADRID, January 20. Cabinet specially considered "the renewed outbreak of strikes and riots throughout the country and decided to punish with equal severity extremists on both sides, involving the full force of the law in defence of the republic, which will be equivalent to imposing martial law. A disquieting feature lias been the renewal of attempts to burn churches and convents, which last year led to the destruction of many art treasures. Moreover, the strike epidemic in many quarters is taking a revolutionary turn. The Government has suspended a leading Roman Catholic newspaper, El Debate, for an editorial in which it was asserted that the Government had aided Communist attacks on church workers. Galicia declared a strike throughout the province, beginning to-day. A number of men were arrested in Valencia, while in the act of placing bombs against the walls of a convent. The general strike at Bilbao has ended. Many distinguished persons were among those who were arrested. JESUIT PROPERTY. CONFISCATION POLICY. LONDON, January 21. The Daily Telegraph’s Madrid correspondent states that the Government is preparing to confiscate Jesuit property. It is rumoured that Senor Zamora signed a decree for the dissolution of the Jesuit order. This is officially denied, but it is believed that the decree is ready for signature. The feeling generally is that the church question is again coming into prominence. Bitterness is increasing on both sides.

FIGHTING IN BARCELONA CABINET HASTILY SUMMONED. MADRID, January 21. The serious risings throughout" Spain were denounced by the President (Senor Don Manuel Azana) as revolutionary. The Cabinet was hastily summoned and a warship was sent to Barcelona, where the revolution is most serious. The troops at Manresa have been ordered to immediate suppress of the revolt. Discontent is widespread following the Government’s anti-religious measures. The Communists, planning a general revolutionary strike, circulated a forged manifesto purporting to emanate from the Workers’ Confederation, by which they hoped to trick the monarchists to suppress the strike, but the confederation warned members to ignore the order. Telegraphs, and telephones are dislocated and a well-filled dynamite store at Navascues was bombed. Communists cut a railway line and derailed a train, many casualties resulting. There is renewed fighting at Barcelona, with the attacks directed against Catholic headquarters. Meanwhile the monarchist municipal officials in the Basque provinces are clapping republicans into gaol.' TYRANNY OF MONARCHISTS. OPPONENTS INFURIATED. MADRID, January 21. Following a declaration by the President that stern measures were necessary to preserve order tlie Cortes approved of the measures by 289 votes to 4. Senor Azana added: ” There are 200 armed rebels an Manresa, but the situation is less serious than was originally supposed. I telephoned to the Mayor that they must surrender within 15 minutes or face the consequences. I presume they surrendered.” The Cabinet’s measures are tantamount to martial law, notably in the Basque provinces and Navarre, where the tyranny of the monarchists has infuriated their opponents. The Governor’s powers are equivalent to a dictatorship

and are aimed at complete suppression of the monarchists. GENERAL STRIKE EXPECTED. LONDON, January 22. The Madrid correspondent of The Times says that aeroplanes have been ordered to assist the troops to suppress a rebellion which is believed to involve 50,000 people in the Manresa region. It is repealed that the Cabinet expects a general strike on January 25, aimin'* at the overthrow of the Republic. POLICE RAIDS IN BARCELONA. BARCELONA, January 22. The police at midnight raided the trades union headquarters and arrested members who were discussing the proposed general strike. They also raided a cafe which is known to be a centre for revolutionaries. There were GO arrests.

FRESH OUTBREAKS RAILWAY TRAFFIC HELD UP. MADRID, January 22. U bile the Government forces are steadily suppressing the revolt in Catalonia a new outbreak occurred in the south. A general strike was declared at Malaga, lhe strikers damaged - the railways, temporarily blocking the transfer of reinforcements sent from Saragossa, where the revolutionaries attempted to blow up three churches. lhe military forces have regained control at Manresa, and have ordered the summary shooting of persons carrying arms. The railway between Barcelona and Manresa was blown up with dynamite. ANARCHISTS DEPORTED. BARCELONA, January 22. The town is dominated by mobile shock police, who have machine guns mounted on armoured cars. Two hundred anarchists have been deported to the Canaries. ORDER BEING RESTORED. LONDON, January 22. A message from Barcelona states that order has been restored in Manresa, Bcrga, and elsewhere.