ROYALTY’S CHALLENGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 9

ROYALTY’S CHALLENGE

SPANISH KING STANDS FAST

“MUST FIGHT FOR REPUBLIC”

PORTUGAL TO EXPEL REBEL

OPINION DIVIDED IN ARMY

By Telegraph—Press Assn.' —Copyright. Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 17. “If the .people want a republic they must fight for it; I shall not go until I am forced to "go,” says King Alfonso of Spain,’ according to a report from the Madrid correspondent of the Daily Express. The correspondent adds that the revolution” is definitely over for the time being. The Government won because the army at tke eleventh hour stood by the King. : All the Republican leaders are now” in flight or in prison. . Portugal has refused to hand over the Spanish rebel leader, Commandant Franco, the Daily Mail’s Madrid correspondent understands, but has promised to keep him and his companions under surveillance and expel them to. England or Holland. Reviewing the •situation the Times correspondent says obviously the military side of the movement lacks conviction. The senior . officers are trustworthy but the juniors are largely Republican while the rank mid file are divided. Conscripts are as reliable as conscripts anywhere; but there is a class of soldiers who pays the Government for the choice of where he is to be stationed, thus creating a privileged and influential yeomanry interested in politics. Many of these are Republicans. The strike is in full swing, but is conducted in calm good humotin. Transport workers are not involved and reservists are staffing the railways. King Alfonso inspected the. artillery engineers at Carabancliol camp to-day and extolled their soldiery discipline. The Bank of Spain has opened a national subscription for a testimonial for the Civic Guard. ; . The Minister of the Interior. has admitted the agitation affects 23 of the. 50 provinces while there are general strikes in the principal towns in ten provinces. These are purely political.