SLOWER FIGHTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 24 November 1936, Page 7

SLOWER FIGHTING

WARFARE IN MADRID I Little Change In Situation FOREIGN COMBATANTS PREDOMINANCE AMONG OFFICERS FW Telegraph —Press AssocTxtion—CopjrngMij LONDON, Nov. 22. The military situation at Madrid is little changed, bad weather compelling both sides to content themselves with consolidating their positions. All reports emphasise the predominance of foreign combatants, especially among the officers. The Spanish Cabinet at Valencia has issued a manifesto denouncing Italy and Germany. It declares that Italy has found in General Franco an accomplice in an attempt to convert Spain into a disguised colony and to add to Abyssinia an empire in the Balearic Islands. Germany has been a worthy collaborator, as she hopes to find in Spain war materials for rearmament against nations refusing to become her vassals. Nevertheless Republican Spain is sufficiently strong to triumph and can count on the support of Mexico, Russia, and a majority of the democracies throughout the world. LOYALIST FLEET ORDERED TO SEA. NEW RUSSIAN GUNS. LONDON, Nov. 22. The Gibraltar correspondent of The Times reports that a violent cxplo-1 sion occurred on the loyalist cruiser ! Miguel de Cervantes in Cartagena j harbour. The vessel has a list and | the engines are completely disabled. [ The remainder of the loyalist fleet is to proceed to sea early this week. | Merchant shipping in ports controlled I by the Government are being armed k to harass General Franco's men-of-war, and several vessels in the loyalists’ fleet are being equipped with new Russian guns.

NEW ZEALANDER’S VIEWS GOVERNMENT BLAMED FAILED TO DO ITS DLTY ! Per Press Asuociatioj. J WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. Dr. Craig, who retired from being Controller of Customs 18 months ago, returned to-day after visiting Great Britain and Spain. Dr. Craig was in Spain before, during and after the Spanish elections, and the political assassinations that started the present conflict had already commenced before he left. He said that in his opinion the existing state of affairs was due to the fact that the Government did not carry out the funct ons of a Government. He had discussed political questions with prominent Spaniards and had also read the Spanish newspapers with a view to acquiring knowledge of the political position. After the election when the Gov-i ernment was formed from the Left i Wing it was really not a Communist Government. The Prime Minister | (Senor Azana) held views approach- i ing those of the Liberal Party in Great i Britain. As soon as the Government ' was formed, trouble arose, for the i more extreme element of the party, particularly the Anarchists and Com- ! munists, started to take members of i the Right for no apparent reason to . lonely places where they murdered [ them in cold blood. The Government failed to mete out punishment, although the assassins were known in some cases, and no people, particularly a proud race like the Spaniards, would i tolerate such a state of affairs for Jong. Dr. Craig considered that, if the Government had carried out the first principles of constitutional Government and had administered the law with justice, the present revolution would not have occurred.