The New York herald., 1921-10-31
Crisis IN Spain DUE
TO ARMY SCANDALS
Charges of Incapacity. OF
Looting and of Cruelty
Made i'm Chamber.
NEWSPAPERS MUZZLEDI
Principal Attack Directed
Against Morocco Campaign
and Morale of Troops.
SOLDIERS AS ASSASSINS
War Minister Cicrva Denies
Graft in Army-Will Pun
ish Guilty.
SOLDIERS AS AssASSINS

The situation in Spain is threaten
Ing an eruption as serious, If not more
so, than that which has just occurred
In Portugal. The reassembling OF the
Cortes took place on October 20, and
already there Is talk OF an abrupt pro-
rogation. The Government is restive
under Parliament's control. For the
last three years the constitutional
guarantees have been suspended and
there has been an implacable censor
ship on all written and spoken words
In public.
When Parliament opened the Gov
ernment declared the censorship abol-
ished, but hardly had the newspapers
here begun to throw little light on
conditions In Morocco and on the po-
litical moves than 1le censorship was
brutally reborn.
Senor Cierva, Minister of War, who
Is fond of playing the role of dictator,
and who, even in 1909, by tyrannical
measures let loose a sanguinary re-
volt which might have caused gem
eral collapse In Spain, has declared 10
Journalists that he will not tolerate
further criticisms of his war policy
and will imprison or, IL necessary,
shoot transgressors Of his orders.
Correspondents Muxzled.
The editor and the directors of the
Madrid evening newspaper L0 Tribune
have already been imprisoned, and those
Of El Didrio UnicersaI, Deputy and
Senator, respectively, have been brought
before military tribunals. Foreign cor
respondents In Spain are mepaced by the
same fate.
Senor Cierva wants an adjournment
OF Parliament as soon as possible, and
this would have occurred already, after
three days sitting. IL two Liberal Min
isters, Francisco Rodriguez of Justice
End Marinus dc Cortina of the Navy,
had not threatened to resign.
Nevertheless crisis looms near The
Ministry's alleged favoritism and arei-
trary acts have produced In the army
restoring which may lead to civil war.
Prominent men have stated that the Rif-
fian campaign, which has cost and is
costing much blood and money, was
launched to satisfy the ambitions of cor
tain Generals and certain business men.
Names and figures were mentioned. Sew
eral Deputies. some Of them military
men, made accusations In speeches which
y.
Senor Solano declared:
I'm Morocco saw Generals who are
cowardly, malicious thieves, such as I
saw In the East and in tho Antilles, who
will lose us our African territory, Just
as others lost Cuba, Puerto Rico and the
Philippines"
He declared that whole regiments OF
improperly trained troops had been sent
to Morocco for active service, and that
cooperation was lacking between Gen.
Berenguer. Spanish High Commissioner
In Morocco, and Gen. Silvestre, who
commanded the Spanish forces there.
He characterized the Spanish attack on
the Moors at Ahucemas a. Ill advised
and doomed to defeat, since the Moorish
forces there were stronger than any
where else In Morocco. He charged that
at least one Spanish General in the Moor
ish campaign had been guilty Of Illicit
traffic in arms.
Rcverses Were Avofdable.
Martines Campos was another Deputy
who criticised the conduct of the Mo-
roccan campaign. He charged that many
oncers in Morocco merely sought higher
pay and promotion: that they did not
enter the campaign out of patriotism and
that they were without enthusiasm. lie
asserted that the troops there were inn
properly trained and that their morale
was bad. Gen. Silvestre he said. was
unaware OF real conditions obtaining
IN the Spanish army, and that had he
been relieved of his command Spanish
rcverses in Morocco could have been
avoided. He charged that when the dis
aster south Of Melil,a occurred numerous
Spanish officers were absent from their
posts OF duty, and that when the High
Commissioner arrived In Meliila he found
there only 1900 Spanish troops instead
cf 5000. az he had been led 10 believe
we're on duty there.
Flo charged that many Spanisl, officers
In Melilla hid themselves until reinforoe.
mcnts reached there. He demanded an
investigation, punishment of any Of
hoers found guilty of neglect of duty
and that no further steps be taken 10
punish the rebellious Moroccans until
The Investigation had been completed.
He declared there we're many shirkers Ia
the Spanish army and that IL was his
opinion Mount Arruit could have been re-
lieved with 10000 men, whereas Spain
possessed 1900.
Another deputy charged that nothing
was done in Morocco towards peace
fUi negotiations with the natives. who
were wilfully mistreated. He declared
the military In Morocco had resolved
themselves INTO conQulStadoreS and that
aseassinations. plunder and violations
we're rife. This orator cited the ex-
ample of one captain. who. to obtain
carpet valued at 5000. simply killed
the Kabyle owner. He asked IL there
VAS any wonder why the Moors sought
revenge.
Senior Cierva replied to the critics OF
The Ministry OF War and declared that
wild charges" had been made with
out taking into consideration the brav-
cry OF the army. He admitted there
might be some dishonest Spanish SOL
diers in Morocco. but that the charges
should not be against the army as a
~hcle or tho entire force In Morocco.
but should be individual. lie called for
names Of those who were guilty OF mig
aD1duct and declared that he would
make searching inquiry into any
srccific chargcs and would punish any
one found guilty.
The War Minister was interrupted
frequently. Finally he declared that n
The military committees interfered he
would dissolve them.
A royal decree. just issued. disn1isses
Gen. Carlos Tuero o'Donell from COM
nand OF the Thirteenth Infantry Bri-
yade IN Morocco and removes Col. sii-
o. a al "a tsntuf f1aft tir.4..