Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02
Spanish Authorities Suppress
News of General Strike.
KING ALFONSO DEPRESSED
Dissuaded With Difficulty From
Going to Disturbed Region.
VISIT WOULD MEAN DEATH
Madrid Denies That Prisoners at
Barcelona Have Been Executed.
Order Partially Restored.

BAYONNE, France. August 2.-Reliable
news regarding the situation in Spain re-
ceived here this morning from San Sebas-
tan represents conditions as very grave
the northern part of the coun-
try. where all the trades unions have
given notice Of the beginning of a general
strike today.
The government has seized all the tele-
graph and telephone wires in the affected
provinces to prevent the leaders Of the
strike movement from communicating
with each other. The transmission OF
newspaper dispatches has been stopped
entirely, forcing a suspension OF ma
jority of the journals.
The greatest excitement reigns among
the working classes. Reports received
here direct from Madrid say that King
Alfonso is greatly depressed over the In
terror situation He desired to throw mis-
personal popularity in the scale. and II
was with difficulty that he could De as
suaded from going In person. r.s
Maura told him 1t would be equlvaient "
suicide to enter that hotbed OF anarchy
High Army Officers Protest.
Some of the highest officers of the army
are protesting vigorously against the
maintenance Of the censorship. They re-
gard this restriction as foolish ana use
less, and giving place to the Widest ana
most exaggerated stories.
Gen. Lopez Dominguez and Gen. Pola.
vieia members of the superior councii
Of war. have protested formally agaIhs,
the censorship, saying they had received
dispatches from officers at the front IN
sisting that all the anxiety has been
caused through the useless censorship:
They declare this only has aggravated
matters and that it would be better to
tell the entire truth.
PARIS. August a.-The facts as to the
situation at Barcelona still remain some
what shrouded, as no correspondent yet
has reached the city. which Is isolated
by land and sea. The censored reports
coming out OF Madrid are suspecten OF
being overoptimistic. Nevertheless. 1t
appears certain that Gen. Santiago has
succeeded In restoring a semblance OF
order in the city, and today serious 4ef-
fort to resume work will be made. AT
the solicitation of the authorities the
employers of Barcelona have agreed to
offer a premium of a weeks wages to
every person coming back to work
Order Partially Restored.
At what cost in life and property COM
parative tranquility has been restored in
known. The various reports agree that
the troops Oy tue use VI IldCHilC guns
drove the revolutionists back. The main
body of the mob escaped and took refuge
behind the barricades in the workmens
quarters, whence they were finally ex-
PEELED by shells from the guns of Fort
Montjuich. Refugees arriving at the.
frontier speak of the terrific slaughter"
and estimate the dead at thousands. but
allowances must be made for their panic
Whether or not the ringleaders who were
captured and tried and condemned by
urt-martial have actually been executed
is not yet clear. Some reports declare
that Gen. Santiago has not yet approved
the death sentences in the cases Of these
men, 1t is known, however, that Emiliano
Iglesias, editor Of the Progress, was shot
without trial in the fortress.
Rebels Control Outskirts.
But if order has been restored at Bar
celona it seems equally certain that the
outlying country, especially the district
north Of the city, still is in the hands of
the revolutionaries. and the task of re-
ducing the remainder of the province
probably will entail much additional
fighting and bloOdshed. Even the omclal
dispatches from Madrid speak OF the
necessity of restoring order In the M
terror of the province and the dimcuity
of dislodging the anarchists, VINO nave
taken refuge in the mountains.
Some reports insist that republic al
ready has been proclaimed and that a
regular junta is directing the operations
of the revolutionists.