REVOLT CRUSHED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 7

REVOLT CRUSHED

SURRENDER OE SEVILLE

FLEEING RINGLEADER CAUGHT

WAS HAILED AS MUSSOLINI

FAILED TO GAIN SUPPORT

REPUBLIC’S SWIFT ACTION By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 12.45 a.m. Madrid, Aug. 11. With Generals San Jurgo and Herranza fleeing towards Portugal from Seville, where the rebels surrendered, the Royalist insurrection has been practically crushed within 24 hours. General Sau Jurgo has been, arrested. General Gonsalez has assumed command of Seville, with which city communications are still interrupted. General San Jurgo apparently attempted to secure support outside Seville. That was not forthcoming so the white flag was hoisted to-day, the peace emissaries declaring that General San Jurgo had misled them. They vigorously condemn him for fleeing and letting them down.

General San Jurgo’s rebels yesterday seized Seville and Jerez (14 miles northeast of Cadiz). The whole of the garrison at Seville joined San Jurgo and the Civil Guard took charge of the city. San Jurgo, one of Spain’s strong men, was hailed as the Mussolini of Spain. For many years he has been commander-in-chief of the Civil Guard but is believed to have been aiming at a dictatorship. He has enormous physical strength and impetuous courage, which he displayed in the Moroccan War. Following the proclamation of a republic San Jurgo nipped the military revolt in. Morocco in the bud by raiding the barracks, seizing two ringleaders and cracking their heads together so that they fell senseless to the ground, whereupon the rest of the rebels surrendered.

News of San Jurgo’s coup was received at Madrid through a Seville telegraphist who, despite his being handcuffed, contrived while pretending to toy with the instrument to tap out a message, after which communication was cut.

The Government dispatched aeroplanes and numerous trainloads of troops and ordered many immediate arrests in Barcelona, where the troops were confined, to barracks.

Governors of other provincial cities were ordered to quell the rebellion at all costs. The revolt was quelled at Madrid at the cost of ten killed and 12 wounded.

. The Government suppressed eight Monarchist papers and closed the most aristocratic club in Madrid. It commandeered cars and lorries to transport the troops to Seville. The 200 arrests in Madrid included General Codel, until recently Under-Sec-retary of War, and General Cavalcante, a close friend of ex-King Alfonso. There is no direct evidence that ex-King Alfonso, who is at present in Czecho-Slo-vakia, had any direct influence in the revolt.

Great demonstrations of loyalty to the republic took place in many cities, people parading the streets and demanding death for the conspirators. The revolt coincided with the issue of warrants for the arrest of ex-King Alfonso/several noblemen, former railway officials and a British contractor following the declarations of a commission of inquiry into railway concessions.