The Washington herald., 1917-09-03
spain TOTTERS
ON WAR BRINK
Revolution Threatens While
Parties Are Divided
on Conflict.

New York. Sept 2-Unfortunate
spain-a few citizens fabulously en-
riched and the mass OF the popula-
ton bitterly impoverished by the
war. her banks so surfeited with gold
that the yellow metal is at discount
and her people mostly going without
sufficient to eat-seems to many inter-
national observers here on the brink
OF plunging into a state of disorderly
turmoil much like that recently wit
messed in Russia.
The sanguinary events OF the world
war distract attention from King AL
fonso Kills country. But history
IL being made there. which in normal
times would MI the front pages of
the newspapers and be the principal
topic of discussion here from the tea
table to the Cabinet room.
spain is probably the hardest hit by
the war Of all the nations except
those actually in the conflict. In the
early part OF the war the agitation
between pro-ally and pro-German
groups was looked upon as a possible
source Of trouble. but this interna-
tional question is now overshadowed
by a multitude of internal maladies
any one Of which would ordinarily be
considered Of major Importance.
Alfonso IL Kissed.
Alfonso. the athletic young King,
has Lost his former popularity. He
is hissed in the theater and stays
away from polo games because OF
anticipated disagreeable hostile DEM
onstrationS
Mail dispatches received here de-
scribe the labor disorders in Spanish
cities, which have resulted in several
hundred deaths. as likely TO increase
rather than diminish
Whatever power the workingmen'
revolution has arises from the fact
that. is costs two and half times
as much 10 live in Spain as 1t did be-
fore the war, while wages, contrary
TO the experience in most other coun-
tries, have remained stationary or
actually decreased.
Army Its Own Master.
The army so far has proved de-
pendabIe when set TO the task of
putting down the revolutionary
workingman. But Spain's army is
almost self-goyerning, as Russia's
was for many weeks this spring,
before Kerensky was able to use the
specter OF defeat by Germany to re-
store discipline. Every army corps
and smaller unit has, IL appears,
council Of defense.
The province OF Catalonia is the
wealthiest, most prosperous and
most progressive in the country. Its
capital, Barcelona, is the center and
hotbed OF most revolutionary move
ments in Spain. Most Of its people
would rather be part Of France than
OF Spain.
Other Spanish provinces would
also like TO break away from the
Madrid government. perhaps partly
in imitation OF Catalonia, but more
on account of wide differences in
race. language, manners and habits
OF thought
The Socialists, Republicans and
Reformists, making up the so-called
Block Of the Left" are combined.
Until the recent internal troubles
became paramount this block" was
concentrating its efforts on throwing
Spain into the war as an entente
ally. Spain's grievances against the
Germans are almost exactly like
the United States-continued out
RACES on undefended merchant ships
by the U-boats.
A leader Of this pro-German clique
Is Capt-Gen- Weyler. whose motor
Gus regime in Cuba had most to do
with American Intervention there.
Weyler is OF German, or part German
origin Like many other SpaniI.i army
officers. he almost worships German
military ideas. He has enormous in
huence with the army.
King Fayors Allies.
But there are notable exceptions to
the general rule that the aristocrats
favor Germany, one being the Duke
Of Alba, whose family has been IA
nous in history for centuries
The King himself Is believed to lean
toward the entente. His consort, Ena,
Is British through and through. In
fact. she has incurred some unpopu-
larity by failure to conceal her pref
erence for England to Spain.
Thus, unhappy Spain stumbles on.
She is buffeted by blasts from all
directions. The Spaniard is a natural
revolutionary. There seems little like
Iihood of q solution OF the country's
troubles-littls chance that any sort OF
a firm, strong central government will
take control and lead the people in
the ways of a modern, prosperous
dauocracy