The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-27
ARMY PREPARING
To INVADE SPAIN
ExiieS Gather on Frontier and
viii Force Entrance Into
Barcelona
GOVERNMENT TROOPS
SENT TO MEET THEM
Migration Will Begin Friday and
Bloody Fighting is Likely 10
Be Immediate
Result.
c BRBERE, FRANco- SPANISH

GER ERE, FRANCO SPANISH
FRONTIER, July 27.--Severai thou
said weil-armed, desperate Spanish
exiles are gathered to-day in this vi
cinity. on the French side Of the from
tier, ready to invade their own coun-
try Friday morning.
In Barcelona, tho industrial center
o. Spain, a general strike and mann
moth anti-government demonstration
has been planned for the same date.
The invaders intend to march
straight to Barcelona to join with
the strikers- The government has been
concentrating troops for two weeks.
and the sending OF 10000 troops into
Barcelona yesterday was probably the
first step toward putting down the re-
beilson with an iron hand. There Is
every prospect of desperate lighting
between the exiles and the government
forces. and the disorders that are ex-
pected all over Catalonia will probably
exceed In bioodshed last summers riot
ing.
Many people doubt. indeed, IL this
years revolt viii be crushed out be-
fore the present dynasty Is oyerthrown.
Tremendous Army.
Just how many exiles will Join In
the march from here upon Barcelona
1t Is impossible to determine. Senior
Claramont. the leader OF the rebels,
says there viii be $4,000. His estimate
Ia probably too high. but 1t is a fact
that men have been reporting here for
more than q month and already 5000
or 10000 are on the scene.
Officials Of the Maura administration
In Spain admitted recently in the
Cortes that 10000 Spaniards were ex-
lied from Barcelona for completely in
last summers outbreak. Few OF them
went further than the French frontier,
settling here with the hope that some
day they might re-enter Spain.
The main apprehension Is whether
Claramont and his aides can hold the
rank and file together in the face of
the formidable showing Alfonso's sea-
soned troops are sure to make. The
general opinion here is that they will
succeed. The rebel band consists main
ly of Catoitans, the best fighters In all
Spain, and most OF them have already
seen service In the kings army.
Refused Pardon.
The prospective invasion ~ to fol-
low a formal demand from the exiles
themselves for q general amnesty for
last summers outbreak. Knowing that
the exiles are made up OF irreconcii-
ables. the government refused Clara
mont thereupon gave notice that I'M
less the government, yielded by July
20 he would resort to force.
The general strike at Barcelona was
decided upon for the express purpose
Of aiding the movement by giving the
government trouble to hook after at
home the same time the invasion be-
gins on the border.
The energy with which the city's
population generally conducts q strike
leaves no doubt that II will be an ex-
ceedingly dangerous affair. Large
quantities OF arms, ammunition and
bombs are said to have been concealed
In the city In readiness for use against
the troops.
General Weyler. the captain general
Mt Barcelona. declares he does not be-
lieve the exiies will dare cross the
frontier Or that the strikers viii re-
sort to violence, but the sending OF
10000 troops and 2.0e0 gendarmes to
Barcelona. together with the extent and
completeness OF the military precau-
tons he has taken. suggest that he
speaks far more optimistically than he
feels.