Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-30
SPAIN WILL Be READY
WHEN WAR CALL COMES
Government Commission Is I'm New
York to Buy Vast Supplies
Of Munitions.
UNLIMITED CREDIT is GIVEN
Denial Is Made That Country VIII
Enter iIOstilities on Side OF Allies,
but 1t Is Admitted England Is
Interested.
Especial to The Tlmes.plspatch.l

Especial TO The Times Dispatch.l
NEW YORK, April 29-Spain IL pre-
pairing for war
a special government commission, IL
mas become known. has opened head
quarters in this city, for the purpose
OF buying $50. 900, 600 cartridges. auto.
latest war pattern.
Inc Sank of Spain has given the
commission unlimited credit md es-
,ahiished large deposits for the pur-
chase OF supplies with the National
City Bank and the FRS, National Bank
OF New York
SPANS official representatives DENY
that their government Is planning to
enter the war on the side of the allies
iheE explain their financial operations
here thus:
Spain intends to be ready. She be-
lieves that 1t is best to prepare for
war in times of peace"
The widely spread report that Eng
iand Is furnishing Spain with the
none! to buy ammunition. motors anu
h!lhg machines, was denied At the
same time. however. il was admitted
mat England Is now backing a Span
ISM hrfn In the construction of n large
ship-building yard in Spain. which will
make n specially of fast transport
craft.
MOVEMENTS ARE GUARDED
WITH UNUSUAL SECRECY
All the movements of the Spanish
commissioners who have charge of the
purchase OF war munitions In the
United States have been guarded with
such unusual secrecy.
As an illustration Of the guarded at
tude OF the commission toward the
PUBLIC the superintendent OF No. IS
Broadway. where II has its offices said:
You Will find those Spanish gentle
men in the Spanish consulate. Room
ol" They are very busy, but nobody
outside of Room 5i3 knows their bust
ness The consulate used to close nj
2. NJ. but now il Is open at all hours
The secret plans and purposes of the
spanish commission were obtained from
merchant, who has had confidential
negotiations with the Spanish commits
sion.
The commission is composed of three
Spanish army and two Spanish navy
ofhcers." he said. The army contingent
consists of Colonel Manuel Rivero BAL
bin, Captain b. Sarda and CAPTAIN
Louis Claros. The naval officials are
Commanders Fernando de Carranza
ana Julio Moreira. Colonel Balbin /.
the president of the company
dealt with Captain Ciaros Colonel
Ba lbin being absent
said ] understood the commission
was IN this country to buy guns and
cartridges and that I was In position
TO furnish large supply. Captain
Claros answered:
1t is true that we want laree
number OF cartridges. We have had
diihculty In getting them because the
allied governments have put in orders
for all the American manufacturers
can produce for some time to come We
nave. nevertheless, been able to secure
about 100000 cartridges for the
standard Mauser type of rifle used in
the Spanish army; but we want MANY
millions more
TO OBTAIN
AN EARLY DELIVERY
Il said that I had heard Spain want
ed at least 250,oo0.oOO rounds of am
and Senior Sarda answcred.
/ am not In position to state the
exact amount. I can only say we are
anxious to obtain delivery by next Jan
uary al the latest. If you can deliver
them by that time ] think we can do
business on a big scale
Captain Claros declined 10 discuss
the report that England had. In fact.
advanced to Spain the money she was
spending in this country for war sup
plies with the understanding that Spain
should join the allies if called upon.
That is very delicate matter
planned the Spanish commissioner
Later he said:
The commission ia greatly interest
ed in automobiles and aeroplanes. we
are now going over specifications sub
mttted by several automobile manu-
facturers. In week or so n sneciaI
expert on aviation will reach New York
from Madrid. and then we will take up
the matter Of purchasing n large mum
Der of American aeroplanes'"
The aviation expert. according TO A
statement issued to-day, at the Span-
ish consulate. Is Commander Afontere.
who left Madrid for New York on
April %
Colonel Ralhin and Captain sarda
were interviewed to-day in the pres
ence OF F. Xavier de salas. the spanish
consul. Senior Salas, acting as smokes.
man, said:
Yes. these gentlemen are here buy-
Ing war supplies for Spain. Our coun-
try is not going to war but we are
preparing for war. We believe that IL
is wise to he ready in these DAYS OF
trouble. The rest of Europe is on fire.
We do not know how long or how far
this war will CO."
WANTS TO REGAIN
OLD COMMERCIAL. POWER
Spain is preparing not only for
war but also for peaceful con-
quests In an expansion of COM
rnercs which should bring equal
benefits to the United States" said Leo
poldo Armand, secretary of the Spanish
Chamber Of Commerce here day His
statement was prompted by the dis
covery Of Span's large purchase OF
automobiles. aeroplanes