DICTATOR IN SPAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 5

DICTATOR IN SPAIN

REBEL LEADER'S CLAIM

FIGHTING! NEAR TOLEDO

LONDON, Oct. 1

Messages from Spain state that tho rebel leader, General Franco, who has been appointed supreme head of the "Nationalist Government" as virtual dictator in the areas under rebel control, continues his preparations to attack Madrid. Sharp lighting continues north of Toledo. The Government forces claim important successes. Apparently masters of the Straits of Gibraltar, the rebels are shipping more troops from Morocco under the guard of rebel cruisers. FEAR OF LONG WAR SOCIALIST'S ADVICE HEND AYE, Aug. 20. In an appeal to the women of Spain Don Indalecio Prieto, the Socialist leader, writing in the Bilbao paper, El Liberal, warns them to expect a long period of warfare. Spain's civil war is likely to develop into a species of trench warfare, he says, a war of positions similar to that in Europe in the Great War. He does not consider that, the loss of life in the fighting lines will be so great as to make it necessary for women to take over men's jobs as they did in France. Although he admires the courage of the women in the firing line, he would prefer to see them more usefully employed behind the lines. The militia, lie says, will soon require clothes for the cold season. This will mean work for thousands of women, who will be wanted also for making ammunition and looking after children.

It is announced that 5000 children are being cared for by a special committee in Madrid. Theatrical performances are being held to obtain funds for their maintenance.

An English woman who has arrived at St. Jean do Luz from San Sebastian says that she was caught one day in a mob round a bullock cart in which eight or nine friars were being taken to prison. The escort was helpless, and the crowd pulled the friars out of the cart. The prisoners were then killed by men who struck them on the'head with the butt end of their rifles.

The English woman had the greatest difficulty in getting out of the crowd and was nearly trampled under foot.

■ ' SCENES IN MADRID

.!. WAR-TIME CONTRASTS I AIR RAID ALARMS j LONDON, Sept. 5. Impressions of life in Madrid during ' the civil war arc sent by the staff cor- . respondent of the British United Press in that city. The air raids arc among the biggest events ill .Madrid's life nowadays, lie declares. Immediately they are signalled everybody who has a eel . Itir makes a. dash for it. Part, of the life of Madrid is stated to be strangely normal: in other ways. it, is far from normal. Girls of all ages. armed with collecting boxes, arc collect ing coppers from passers-by lor the sick and wounded, and for the orphans of those who have been killed. Posters announcing benefits in aid of the wounded and the militia arc on the hoardings. There are no taxis. After six weeks of war, all drivers arc at the front or are driving army vehicles in Madrid. Hut the trams are miming normally. Double-decker buses, .some of which came from England, are also absent from the streets! They have been turned into ambulances to carry wounded from the front. The bars, cafes, cinemas, theatres, and clubs are either closed or "managed" by workers' organisations. Militia men ' can be seen on the.cafe terraces dressed in blue overalls and wearing forage '.caps. They proudly show their friends their newly -acquired rifles and revolvers. j HAMMER AND SICKLE 1 Motor cars dash through the streets. most, of them painted with the sign* C.N.T. (National Confederation ol i Labour) ;' U.O.T. (General Union ol 'Workers), or F.A.I. (IRerian Anarchists' Federation). Others carry- the "hamnici and sickle" sign of the Communists. The churches have been turned into bar racks; militia headquarters, and hospi i tnls. The -famous Casino Club on A lea hi street is now occupied by armed militia. I They can be scaled in the deep armchairs where formerly Spanish ! grandees took their col Tee. Outside this ! famous building are piles of crates, n | sign that the club is now one of the militia's principal quarters. In the streets are children known a. I Pioneros. They design hammer ami sickle symbols with sand, cement, water. j and paint, on the pavement. These are ' then roped-otf and money is collected from passers-by, again for the hospitals. j The Madrid people have said "Adios" .to the word "Adios," which mcam good-bye. That is because it means "To Cod." Instead, the word "Salud," which means "Health." is now generally used. There has been a general discarding ol ties, well-cut suits, and shoes in .Mad rid. Their place has been taken by over alls and rope-soled beach sandals. j There is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and determination in the streets, Frc qiient processions of Socialists, Commun , ists, Syndicalists, or militia are seen. I The processionists shout constantly "They shall not pass," the old Verdui battle cry of the French in a new set Ling, or they sing the International oi other Left Wing songs. The militia try to be courteous and helpful in the streets, especially to foreigners. There is a general observance of the early-to-bed mile in Madrid, owing to the air raids. In consequence, the cinemas and theatres are nearly empty late at, night. . All foreigners in the streets have (lag.-

on their arms. or ;i small (lag in (lie cniit lapel, denoting nationality. NO 11 KG G AI’S 01! i'KDLAU.S At night trams ami motor cars travel with blue or green lights, so that they shall not betray the topography or the roads in and around Madrid to raiding aeroplanes, lint the street lamps are still lighted. There are. few bootblacks and no beggars or pedlars. 1 hey tire ail at the front. The favourite pastime of wireless listeners is trying to pick up the rebel stations. especially Seville, where General (Jueipo de Llano's broadcasts have made him famous, llis voice always conies tli.i nil* i-rii’v finr»k* !ilhi fvilll.V Mill!

oxer the air very thick and unity, am: I,lm Madrid militia allege that lie gets intoxicated lietore lie goes oil the air. i'lio cartoonists in Madrid welcome him. always depicting him in his allegedly P.acehanaliaii aspects. The lines of patient servants and housewives before the moat market in the early mornings are now disappearing. The city is. however, not too well supnlied with meat, (treat, lorries, hearing such signs as "\ aleneia to Madrid : Long Live the Itepuhlie.” come in from .'astern Spain, all carrying loodstuffs. Long lines of lorries move through the streets Let ween cheering crowds, who salute them with clenched lists. Each lorry has two, sometimes three or four boarded workers, each carrying, a rifle, .viiich they wave on high as they suluti the people’ of Madrid. Each lorry hears the name <b a town or a village which s sending the food inside to Madrid and the front line. Each night the water consumption goes up suddenly. The people lill their, hath tubs with water, just in case the water is cut olf in the morning.