TROOPS MASSED IN MOROCCO

Southland Times, Issue 23795, 18 April 1939, Page 7

TROOPS MASSED IN MOROCCO

LARGE FORCE SENT FROM MAINLAND ACTIVITIES CLOSE TO TANGIER FRENCH WARSHIPS AT GIBRALTAR (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 17, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, April 17. About 12,000 Spanish troops have been transported from the mainland to Spanish Morocco in the past 48 hours, says the Tangier correspondent of the British United Press. All are concentrated ' near the international zone of Tangier.

Spanish newspapers at Tangier report that 90,000 soldiers are now stationed in Spanish Morocco compared with 36,000 before the civil war.

Two French battleships and two destroyers have arrived at Gibraltar.

“MERELY A TRAINING CRUISE” GERMAN EXPLANATION OF NAVAL MOVES BERLIN, April 15. A spokesman of the Navy Department said: “It is foolish to assume that Germany is sending ships to Spanish waters in the expectation of war. If trouble arose our first duty would be to defend our own coast. We are planning no joint manoeuvres with the Spanish fleet. It is merely a training cruise and was decided on months ago.”

THE POPE LAUDS ‘TIGHT FOR CIVILIZATION”

VATICAN CITY, April 15.

The Pope in a broadcast to Spain lauded the nationalists’ “fight for Christian civilization,” and congratulated them on “their victory over communism.” He appealed to the victors to temper justice with mercy and to remember that many were misled by propaganda.

REPUBLICAN GENERAL TO BE EXECUTED

LONDON, April 16. The Barcelona correspondent of the ■British United Press says that a courtmartial sentenced to death Genera] Jose Roldan, commander of the Barcelona forces when the nationalist movement was started, because he ordered the Civil Guards to fight the nationalist army. He also gave evidence against General Coded Burial, whom the Republicans executed. General Roldan’s brother refused to defend him and in view of this a lieutenant took over the task. General Roldan was on crutches.