Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1936. UNHAPPY SPAIN.

Western Star, 6 October 1936, Page 2

Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1936. UNHAPPY SPAIN.

There are no less than nine parties on the rebel side taking part in the bloody struggle which is being waged in Spain, while the loyalists are made up of eight distinct parties. The insurgents include Eoyalists and Republicans, Fascists and non-Fascists, Monarchists who favour Alfonso's family and those who support the rival Carlists. Ranked behind the Government are Catholic as well as nonCatholic Republicanism; Socialist's, who stand for the confiscation of landed estates and are anti-clerical; Communists, fiercely anti-clerical, whose minds ran to Soviets; and Anarcho-Syndicalists, who flout constitutional methods, but differ, from the Communists in demanding local autonomy everywhere. The issue has been generally described as one between Fascism and Communism, but only fifteen Communists were returned at the elections in February. It is generally agreed that Communism has the least natural hold upon the people of Spain, whose individualism is reflected in the number of their parties and constant contentions. But the smallness. of the Communist representation probably was more due to the fact that this creed concerns itself least with Parliament and parliamentary methods. At its inception there seems no doubt whatever that the revolt, beyond anything else, was that of a military caste which feared that its officers would lose their positions and influence if the Government, supported by Communists, continued to rule. There were supporters who feared confiscation of their property. As its troubles have grown it would appear that the Government, composed of many sections, has come more and more under Communism and AnarchoSyndicalist control. The elections, it has been contended, were not fought on principles so much as on the question of the release of victims imprisoned by the preceding Government. The conflict has continued, with equal cruelties on both sides, and it looks as if the rebels will soon be the loyalists. Their discipline and superiority in arms seems to be prevailing over the disorderly forces of the other side. If they capture Madrid and form a Government there is no certainty that it will be Fascist in the ordinary acceptation of the term. There were few Fascists in Spain on the eve of the election, and most of them were gaoled very quickly by the Left Government when it assumed office. What is threatened is a military dictatorship of the kind which Spain has had before, under Primo de Rivera, when the country was better ruled, probably, than it has been since, and others. A Fascist Government, in close alliance with Germany and Italy, has been feared by one-half of Europo -s much as a Communist Spain, iii alliance with Russia, has been feared by the other, but Spain is a feeble country. Its support would add little strength to any Power or combination of Powers. If a dictatorship should prove too extreme tlie reaction against it almost certainly would produce counter-revolts, and the present sage would be only the beginning of a long period of unsettlement and recurrent bloodshed. On the other hand, the cohesion that exists between different sections of the present Government seems to be the least that could be imagined. Spain will die on her feet, declares a loyalist stalwart, rather than live on her knees. There is no real question of Spain dying, though both sides in this conflict 'seem determined to reduce the population as much as possible. In addition to the loss of life there has been vast destruction of beautiful buildings and works of art, and the economic difficulties of whatever Government may be formed after the struggle will exceed anything that has had to be faced in the past.