Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-28
Situation Throughout the Kingdom
Becomes Exceedingly Grave.
HARD FIGHTING AT MELILLA
Zone of Disorders Spreading Rapid
ly-Rumors That Military
Cabinet Is to Be Formed
to Cope With Alarm
ing Conditions.
MADRID. July 2s.-King All.
tonso this afternoon issued a de-
cree proclaiming martial law and
the suspension of constitutional
guarantees throughout Spain.

Siee PIoCldlInlng martial law and
the suspension of constitutional
guarantees throughout Spain.
The kings proclamation followed hi,
arrival from San Sebastian this morning.
from which point he had been summoned
by Premier Maura. The official dispatches
of the night had continued to show an
alarming condition of affairs at Barcelona
and neighboring towns in Catalonia
special meeting of the cabinet was
summoned The situation in the disturbed
districts as well as the critical condition
Of the Spanish military forces In Morocco
was fully discussed. The result of the
conference was the issuance Of the kings
decree proclaiming martial law through
out Spain and the suspension of all con.
stitutional guarantees
The latest reports from Barcelona show
the condition there increasingly grave. /
the Little Sisters of the Poor. This fol-
lowed the riotous disorders when the
mob assaulted and then burned several
of the religious establishments
Zone of Disorders Spreading.
New disorders are now reported from
two other interior points, Alfoi and Rioja.
This shows that the zone of popular agita-
tiOn is spreading beyond the turbulent
Catalonians and is affecting the Valen-
clans.
The minister of the interior is besieged
with inquiries as to the various outbreaks.
but he declines to make public the details
of the disorders in the Valencian towns.
He has announced. however. that the gov
ernment will adopt the most urgent meas
ures of repression, with a view Of giving
an example to the turbulent element
Another dispatch received in official
quarters states that the custom house
has been closed on the frontier near
Cerbere owing to the popular demonstra-
ton against the government officers.
Railway Tracks Torn Up.
The rioters continue to tear up tho
railways and noisily intervene at the
points where reserves are being recruited
for military service. The chief indigna-
ton of the people is directed against the
governments policy of rapidly recruiting
large IO COpe Will iuc SOhoilioh
confronting Spain in Morocco.
The inhabitants of Cuera, a small sta
ton of the Port Bou line. maddened by
the sight of a passing train carrying re-
cruits destroyed the roadbed for dis
tance of seven kilometers.
Reaction in Public Opinion.
The events in Catalonia province have
caused some reaction in public opinion.
The conservative newspapers Of Madrid
protest against the revolution while tho
country is fighting TO maintain its honor
on foreign soil, and they appeal to the
public to sink political differences and
support the government in vigorous sup
preston of anarchy and sedition at
Barcelona.
The notorious anarchists, Cardenai ana
Herreros are represented as being the
leaders in the rioting, which was accom-
panied by incendiarism and the destruc-
tion of property.
The convent of Merastas was taken by
assault and the Church of st. Paul and
the congregational schools of st. Antoine
were burned. The captain general and
his staff were fired upon as they were
riding through the Boulevard Paraleto.
Bands of strikers were dispatched from
Barcelona to the surrounding country to
destroy the railroad, with the object or
preventing the arrival of troops to REIN
force the Barcelona garrison. The troops
from Valencia were forced to disembark
at Vendrell. seventeen miles from Tar.
ragona. from where they drove the strik.
org before them.