Evening star., 1918-02-01
new STYLE REVOLT
BREWING IN SPAIN
Crusted Old Social System
Probably Will Be Discarded,
Says Herbert Corey.
DEPENDS ON U. S. GOODS
BY HERBERT COREY,


PARIS, January 2-There may be a
revolution in Spain in February. Signs
point to 1T. But If there Is a revolu-
tion it will be Of a new sort:
King Alfonso will probably remain
on the throne.
Spain will remain neutral,
That may not sound like much of a
revolution. In fact, however, one of
the finest old crusted social systems
In Europe may be dumped in the ash
can. Almost anything may happen If
the revolution runs along the ordaine d
lines. Catalonia may win the semi
independence she has been fighting for
SO long. The military element may
gain complete control Of the govern
ment- All the offenders imprisoned
in punishment for the outbreaks of
August may be released. Then there
may be a different sort of a revolu-
tion altogether.
Depend on United States Aid.
'If the United States gives US the
cotton and petrol we need to keep our
factories running 1 do not think there
is any grave danger" said Premier
Prieto recently. But If we must close
our factories. then thousands of per-
sons will starve."
What them"
Anything may happen" said Prieto.
The threat of an outbreak in Febru-
ary centers around the military, just
as that of last August did. In August.
to organize. The "juntas" represented
the officers only. They demanded GER
tain things for themselves, which were
entirely matters of army administra-
ton They wanted more pay, less ia
Vorltism. less nepotism. In order to
be sure of the support of their men
they added certain demands for better
food and better pay for the privates
and non commissioned officers.
These demands were put forward just
at the time when the socialists were
threatening revolution. They wanted
especially the Catalonian autonomy,
more education. cleaner courts. fair
voting system and fewer pocket
boroughs." The soldiers promised to
support the socialists if they revolted,
but when the revolt came they did not.
The throne had come to terms with the
wanted and dropped the socialists like
hot Goals.
Now Soldiers Want More.
Now the soldiers want more. This
time 1t is not merely the officers who
are forming juntas and threatening
rebellion. Two can, play at that game.
The private soldiers and non-coms have
juntas of their own now, and are
formulating demands. The latest tn
formation from Madrid is that the Of
f1cers' juntas and the soldiers juntas
will be able to form a working agree
ment and in this way get what the
army wants from the country.
What the army wants is power. 1t
discovered in August last that it could
take little power If it wanted to, and
that sort of appetite grows. In the re-
cent politics of Spain the army has
played first with the socialists and then
with the conservatives and then with
the liberals. Now it seems not to
be playing with any Of the parties. 1t
is standing pat on it's possession of all
the rifles and swords and ammunition
In the country. It has no desire to de-
throne Alfonso. On the contrary, 1t
processes to be. and probably is, loyal
to the royal family. 1t merely wants
to have a tame king-the sort of king
that will squeak obediently on pres
sure. Alfonso is a philosopher.
"I like my job" he said once. ut is
the best job could ever get"
AS I see the Spanish situation from
Paris. it makes little difference what
the Spanish political parties want, so
long as the army holds fast to this
attitude. The chances are the army
will win. The chances are increased
because the army ns to be the one
stable factor in a fluid situation, and
the allies are backing it. Provided that
the army keeps Spain neutral and Great
Britain gets the iron ore she must have,
no other development is apt to interest
any one on the allied side. In return
for the iron ore Spain is to be furnished
coal, and she asks cotton and petrol.
Snain Not Prn-German