New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-29

and Italy. This feeling is especially
strong along the northeastern border,
wnere the people have contact with
France, and where there is more than
little French blood.
The industrial element is mostly
liberal and therefore mostly pro-Ally.
This applies not only TO the millions
of factory operatives who are building
up "A new industry and brewing revo-
luton all over Spain, but generally to
the employing element as well. Bar
celona is the largest city of Spain and
also its most important manufacturing
centre. 1t is there that Ferrer worked
end died before the firing squad; 1t IS
there, if anywhere, that revolution
must start. Now, Barcelona is as
intellectually on the side of the Al
lies as were Milan, say, or Venice, be-
fore Italy entered the war. On the
other hand, ecclesiastical Toledo and
Madrid, seat of the court, of most of
the churchly control and of army gov
eminent, would probably vote for Ger
many and Austria.
Under this surface of things run a
hundred little intrigues of the war
ring nations. Both German and British
capital are strongly represented in
Spain, and the men who control TINS
capital have been using their power in
various Ways to the advantage OF thelI
nations. The British, as usual, have
been working quietly and under the
surface. and the Germans with consld-
cradle noise. As in the United States
before the Lusitania incident, Germany
has conducted a strong and violent
press campaign. 1t is an open
secret in Madrid that at least three
of the most influential newspapers
have been bought up" by the Ger,
mans. Even the prices are quoted
IN the cafes. To an American these
prices seem modest enough. The edi-
torial heads of one influential newspa-
per. i. is said, receive a bride OF I,O0O
pc etas, or $1,400, a month. This would
be a passing low bride in America, put
il is high in Spain, where an ordinary
reporter gets SIS month ana
the most influential Underwriters only
500 a month. However, this is not the
only valuable consideration. Germans
control many of the banks and some
of the most widely advertised commod-
tiles in Spain. The German banks dis
count the bills of the pro-German
r.ewspapers, and see that they get all
these newspapers prosper as never be-
fore. On the other hand, La CORE
spondencia de Espana." which IS LID
eral in politics and has been stancn
friend to France, is plainly starving lot
advertisements; one has but TO look
il over to realize that. All this, OF
course, is ridiculously like the way OF
an American corporation with Amerl-
can newspapers; and it proves that the
game is the same the world around.
German Gold Behind Press.
A newspaper expert need only read
over the three pro-German newspapers
of Madrid to discover that their war
matter is furnished from source hlgn--
er up; it resembles strongly in general
cast and spirit the items provided by
the liauor dealers to purchased Amerl-
can newspapers during prohibition
campaign. Take, for example, one item
printed this week. 1t set forth, on the
authority of the Pioneer Pres OF san
Pablo" in the State of "Minsota," that
Senior somebody or other, an official IN
the university of iowa." had travelled
repeatedly on the Lusitania and iound
that she was armed with cannon. mere
followed a paragraph of comment which
position. In its editorials, its news and
especially it's cartoons this part of the
Spanish press out-Germans Germany.
Some of the cartoons are undenlably
clever. One introduces the shades OF
two French soldiers. How did you
die? ?" asks the first one. Horribly,
barbarously, by poisonous gas" replies
the second; "and your? "Oh, | died IN
an honorable and civilized manner. My
entrails were blown out by a cannon.
The war as reflected in Spanish poll
tics introduces complexities hard for
a stranger to understand and not to be
described without reserve by an Amerl-
can who has spent only week IN the
country and gets his information sec
ond hand A conservative party IS
nominally in power. The conservative
party is also nominally neutral, which
means in present effect pro-German'
They have done what Germany has
been urging the United States to do
in violation of the letter OF interna-
tional law-they have prohibited the
expectation of supplies to the belliger-
ents. However, if report be true, TINS
law has been more honored IN the
breach than in the observance. Inc
supplies which Spain produces and
which the European armies need, and
notably, mules and foodstuifs, nave
been struggled out wholesale. There
is one conspicuous exception. Germany
needs copper and Spain produces II.
BEFORE the 2lst of May last 1t was
possible TO smuggle copper into Ger
many via Italy. But the copper INDUS
try of Spain is controlled by the BRIT
ish. and Germany got none OF II. Ihere
have been plots and counter plots con-
corning supplies; as witness the matter
of the American rifles. We have been
hearing about those American rlnes
over here for the last SIX months AS
the story goes, the American army
upon adopting the new Springfield, con-
demned 1000 Krag- Jorgensens. Ihese
rifles were stacked IN the armorles
awaiting condemnation and private
sale when the war began. T1ey are
still perfectly good arms and the Rus
SLAMS want them badly. The govern
ment. however. could not release them
for obvious sale to belllgerent with
out violating neutrality. but all KINDS
of devices have been tried 10 get
around this difficulty. ! state but the
report as | hear 1t in Europe where
enc hears many strange and untrue
things. Myself | have left one Euro
mean city proceeding about ITS busi-
ress as usual. to hear in the next city
that my place of departure had two
days before been destroyed by ar
raft on the other hand. NAV be
renorting old but authentic news. Now
il is said here that an enterprising
American agent conceived the idea Of
selling these rifles 10 Spanish contrac-
tors. ostensibly for Spanish uses. After
the transfer they were TO be struggled
over to the Allies. This operation was
going we'll. when the Germans con-
viewed the news 20 the Queen Mother.