MOLA’S TACTICS.

Wairarapa Age, 29 July 1936, Page 5

MOLA’S TACTICS.

BOLD WORDS AND CAUTIOUS ACTION. NO EARLY ATTACK ON MADRID LIKELY. (Received This Day, 0.15 a.m.) MADRID, July 28. The struggle is developing into a war of attrition and victory is likely to go to the side with the biggest re-

serves of strength. Both sides continue to profess invincibility. General Mola, in a lengthy interview, counted his chickens, declaring that Madrid was certain to fall soon, after which it would be easy td crush resistance elsewhere. “We shell then concentrate,” he said, ‘ ‘ on building up the Army and making Spain one of the strongest nations in Europe, under the government of a military dictatorship. There is no question of restoring the monarchy.”

General Mola’s brave words seem to be part of the rebels ’ policy of window dressing. His actual tactics are based on caution rather than bravado and he will certainly make no attempt to attack Madrid until His/ forces are considerably stronger. A siege of the capital would expose/the assailants to the danger of being caught in the rear through the intricate passes of the Guadarrama Mountains. Government ’planes have repeatedly and successfully bombed the rebel headquarters at San Rafael, destroying barracks, troops on the march and transport. Dellano is similarly immobilised in the south, where the Government has been strengthened by the action of individual supporters, who are systematically destroying bridges, highroads and railways. Fighting at present is concentrated, first round San Sebastian and secondly between Gibraltar and Malaga.