PALACE ESCAPES BOMBS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1930, Page 9

PALACE ESCAPES BOMBS

FRANCO SPARES CHILDREN . V. SAYS KING ALFONSO MUST GO TENSION REMAINS IN SPAIN ELABORATE. PRECAUTIONS' By Telesrraph—Press Assn— Copyright. • ’ /. 2l. The special correspondent of the Daily Express, who travelled from Madrid to Mafra, Commandant Franco came down, had to travel to the French border-to escape the Pbrtugqgee and Spanish censorship to transmit Franco’s statement, which says: — “If it had not been for. the little children playing in the square I should’ have blown Alfonso’s palace to pieces. My bombs were ready to drop and I had my hand on the lever, but I saw the kiddies and simply co.uld not do it. “I continued to fly over Madrid .and expected the signa! which would have sent Republicanism throughout" the city. It never came. The revolution has'failed this time, but it will succeed eventually. The King must go. • We must deliver Spain and make her a European Power.' At present she is a mere Moroccan nation. . .

“When the Republic is established Alfonso will be made to answer to the National Assembly for his deeds, economic as well as political. The . present failure of the revolution is due principally to the Spanish love of putting off things till to-morrow. ;

“Friends, I .am going to different countries for a while. We .shallbe busy telling England that Spanish republicanism is far from dead; it is very much alive.”

Le Journal’s special Madrid correspondent says that, though the trouble is temporarily over elaborate precautions have been taken to protect King Alfonso. Fearing assassination, he is reported to have slept' at the British Embassy for the past few nights. The correspondent inspected a secret passage from the Royal Palace, where an aeroplane pilot is ready night and day in the event of King Alfonso deciding to fly from the country. • The first council of Spanish Ministers held since the disorders announces that event# have not altered their determination to call a general election in the spring,'says the Madrid correspondent of the Times. Although it is not announced when ' martial law .is to end the Prime Minister, General Berenguer, declares tfiat normal tranquility now prevails throughout Spain, but it must be admitted this has been achieved at the cost of imprisoning thousands. According to a conservative estimate at least 600, without counting the military, have been imprisoned in Madrid alone. .

Fifteen of the twenty town councillors at Valencia have been arrested and fugitives are being picked up in all parts of the country. The CaptainGeneral of Catalonia has ordered the plowing of all syndicalist unions within his three provinces. \ ,/1 • ! ' 4 The Lisbon correspondent of thd IJJimes says the rebel leaders, Commandants Franco and Rada'have been granted passports to Uruguay, of 1 which they were made citizens after the Plus Ultra flight. Llanos has been granted a passport to Holland. Other revolutionaries sheltering in'. Portugal are mostly poing to Germany. ■