NEW ALARM OVER SPAIN

Southland Times, Issue 23794, 17 April 1939, Page 7

NEW ALARM OVER SPAIN

ITALIAN TROOPS MASSING?

German Technicians And Big Guns

ANXIOUS WATCH BY FRANCE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS AT GIBRALTAR (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 16, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 15. France, is most perturbed by reports that from 15,000 to 20,000 fresh Italian troops have landed at Cadiz and are concentrating at Logrono, 60 miles from the Franco-Spanish frontier, says the Bordeaux correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. Logrono is the site of the. Italian headquarters throughout the war, but the need for concentrations has clearly passed.

It is known that from 9000 to 10,000 picked German technicians and artillery men are still in Spain, distributed over the northern towns. It is considered that they would be more useful to General Franco than the Italians in the event of an attack on France. In addition to numerous artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, the Germans possess 50 guns which are among the heaviest in Europe. These were largely responsible for the smashing of the Catalan front. Large quantities of war material have been landed at Vigo during the last 10 days.

France is also most concerned over the continued presence of hundreds of Italian and German aeroplanes, accommodated at a string of Germanbuilt, heavily-fortified aerodromes on the northern frontier.

The Paris correspondent of the British United Press reports that officials at Hendaye say that the French frontier batteries are fully manned and command all the Spanish approaches. Troops are at present manning the mountain defences; heavy guns and extra ammunition have been installed and anti-aircraft equipment has been reinforced. BOOMS AT GIBRALTAR j i ■ At Gibraltar booms Have been installed and entrance to the Admiralty harbour is forbidden. It is explained in Spanish quarters that the continued arrival of troops at La Linea is the result of the nationalist demobilization. The First Battalion of the Welsh Guards will leave Britain for Gibraltar next Saturday. A semi-official statement issued at St. Jean de Luz (France) says that no date has been fixed‘for the victory parade in Madrid and that the decision rests with General Franco.

The victory parade in Madrid, after which Italian troops were to withdraw from Spain, has been indefinitely postponed, says a message from the Agence Radio (Paris). Official circles at Burgos, the Spanish nationalist capital, do not appreciate Mr Chamberlain’s reference to the withdrawal of Italians, declaring that if it is not a unilateral question between Britain and Italy it is an offence to Spanish feelings to forget that General Franco never broke his word and that he promised all foreigners would be withdrawn after his victory. “Spanish pride is not taken into account if it is supposed Spain is submitting to pr following blindly any country, even to which it has been closely attached,” said a spokesman. “Spain is independent and does not need protection, as it has the' strength and right to carry out Spanish policy.

SPAIN WITHDRAWS FROM ARBITRATION ACT

(Received April 15, 6.30 p.m.) GENEVA, April 14. Spain has withdrawn her signature from the Arbitration Apt.