The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-17
STAINS GREATEST FErE

Spaniards will celebrate today the greatest of their patriotic holidays the F'ete du Roi, marking the thirtieth birthday of King Alfonso XIII. Once the most warlike of nations Spain is now enjoying the novel sensation of being completely at peace while near ly all of the European nations are plunged into a terrible and devastat- ing war. That the curse has not fall en upon Spain is attributed by a vast multitude of Spaniards to the influ- ence of King Alfonso, and in conse- quence the young monarch has be- come more popular than ever. The clements of discontent which have been responsible for so many upris- ings and riots in the past decade are still active, but the popularity of AL fonso has prevented the complete sue cess of their anti-monarchial plots.
 King Alfonso is now the head of a bureau which has for it's purpose the establishment of communication be- tween prisoners of war and their re1a- lives. His greatest Service has been to the French prisoners, and through his efforts more than 100000 French families have received letters from dear ones who have been captured by the Germans. King Alfonso vo1un- tarily assumed this office, and the work is carried on under his personal supervision. Multitudes of women in France,f Great Britain, Belgium, Ger many and Austria. have had cause to bless the name of the royal founder of this clearing house for information about the missing" Spain's diplo- natic and consular representatives in the various capitals necessarily play an important part in this work of mercy, but Madrid is the headquar- ters of the bureau, and the royal pal ace the center of activity. Hundreds of sympathetic letters have been dic- fof eli hxy nj SI cY- arch in connection with this pathetic task.
 In maintaining an attitude of strict neutrality in the war, King Alfonso has been confronted by many difficult ties. For months after the outbreak of the war the Germans spent vast sums on a propaganda designed to arouse the Spanish people against France. Germany hoped to induce Spain to make military demOnstra- tions on her northern frontier which would force France to divert a part of her army to the Pyrenees. For time 1t seemed that the Teuton Ma chinatfons were to be successful, but pro-German movement, while sup ported by some powerful officials, was opposed by the King and by a great mapority of the people The pro-German ministers were over thrown, and the present government, while strictly neutral, is believed to be anti German in the personal sym pathies of it's members.
 Since Portugal entered the war an other attempt has been made to in duce the Spaniards to join in move ment against their neighbor, and to assist the Portuguese royalists in their attempts to bring about the downfall of the republic. King A1fonso's an swer to this propaganda was to renew his assurances to Great Britain and France that Spain would not under any circumstances attack Portugal, nor permit Spanish soil to be used as a base of operations against that re- public. As an evidence of good faith, King Alfonso withdrew most of the troops stationed near the Portuguese border.
 While Germany has many synpa- thizers in Spain. the masses of the people favor the cause of the Allies, but very few of them want Spain to participate in the war. The span iards are not a commercial people, but the war has practically forced them into activities from which many have reaped Q rich golden reward. Whatever action other nations may take, it is practically certain that Spain will remain neutral to the end of the conflict.