DOMINANT FACTOR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 27 August 1936, Page 15

DOMINANT FACTOR

SPANISH CIVIL WAR

MODERN EQUIPMENT

MORALE OF MILITIA

COMPARISON OF FORCES

(Elnc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 26, 2.45 p.m.l lAJvDON, Aug. 25.

The Valencia correspondent of The Times, striking a balance after six weeks of warfare in Spain, points out that the main question is which side will most quickly become modernised. The most powerful factor in the Government's favour is the morale of the anti-Fascist militia consisting of armed workers, miners, peasants and townsmen. It is well supplied with munitions, machine-guns and artillery, but lacks anti-aircraft guns and aircraft. The Government has superiority in naval forces and controls all ports except Corunna, Vigo and Cadiz. The insurgents possess a relatively trained and disciplined army with good fighting officers, but General Franco is not fulfilling expectations. A majority of the insurgents who are properly soldiers would be disposed, if allowed, to desert to the Government.

The rebels' civilian forces include armed Carlist youths and gunmen of the Spanish Phalanx, a Fascist organisation, and the youth of Senor Gil Robles" party. The Carlists are well trained fighters. The insurgents naval forces. including the Espana, the Almirante Cervera and the Canarias, are inferior to the Government fleet, but possess an increasing superiority in well-manned aircraft, including 15 Italian aeroplanes and 17 German-made bombers. RACE BALLOON CAPTURED REBELS KILL PILOTS CONTEST IN POLAND (Reed. Aug. 26, 3 p.m.) WARSAW, Aug. 25. Spain has withdrawn from the Gordon Bennett balloon race, to he hold on August 30, because the insurgents seized hor only entry on the point of shipment and killed the pilots. The United States entry has also been withdrawn, though no reason has been given. The contestants, will be three Polish and three German entrants, with one apiece from Belgium, France and Switzerland.