Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-06
REVOLT IN SPAIN
BELIEVED BREWING
Leaders See Fall of Dictator
Near, With Opposition
on Increase.
BY LELAND STOWE.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
MADRID, February 25.-Spain rests
today in a state of pseudo-tranquillity
which is as fragile as it is artificial
Both the fragility and artificiality OF
political peace here were recently re-
vealed in the revolt of the Ciudad Real
garrison and the Valencia near-uprls-
ing which failed, only by an extremely
narrow margin. to touch off general
rebellion against the dictatorship OF
Primo de Rivera.
The Ciudad Real artillerymen were
subdued. They came OUT before
Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona-in fact,
virtually the whole Mediterranean lit
toral-could fall in line to support
them. Senior Sanchez Guerra, powerful
leader of the Conservative party in
Spain and chieftain of the planned re-
volt, surrendered at Valencia. A storm
at sea, which delayed his arrival by
two days, had thrown the revolt OFF
schedule and confused the subofflcials
of the plot"
BY that narrow thread of circum-
stance the dictatorship in Spain was
given another lease on life. And with
what is perhaps pardonable assurance,
Gen. Primo de Rivera informed this
correspondent a few days later that
Cludad Real and Valencia had been
isolated incidents and that all is quiet
and well in Spain.
New Governmental Decree.
But even at that very moment the
Official Gazette was publishing a new
governmental decree, signed by King
Alfonso XIII-a decree decisively end
ing the benevolency which has marked
the Rivera dictatorship for over five
years and as unquestionably introCuc-
ing the methods of Mussolini into the
Spanish peninsula. Today freedom Of
the press and freedom of speech are
outlawed as much in Spain as they
have been for number OF years in
Italy. One is entitled, therefore. to
ask just what has happened in Spain
What was the revolt that failed to re-
volt? How serious is the actual opposi-
ton to the Spanish dictatorship and
how strong. in reality, is the position
Of Primo de Rivera today?
1t would be unfair to attempt to an
Swer any Of these questions without
having sought as many facets of public
opinion as it is possible to come in con-
tact with in Spain. Having spent more
than a week travelling through and
across Northern and Central Spain:
having been received by Gen. de Rivera
and having heard him talk with ex-
traordinary frankness for 35 minutes:
having talked with his supporters and
having talked also with the Count de
Romanones, with leaders of the Catalan
movements in the north and with others
of his principal opponents, the Herald
Tribune representative is forced to con-
clude that the Spanish dictatorship has
now entered its final phase.
Character of Revolt Changing.
Each of the above mentioned ques-
tons bear directly upon this conclu-
sion. First of all, the revolt, which fall
ed to revolt, can only be appreciated
in its true proportions If a series of
widely scattered incidents are consid-
cred as whole The plot, led by ex-
Premier Sanchez Guerra, was not large
II an artillery revolt" as its predeces-
sur of two years ago had been. Linked
with the artillery (Primo's original and
unchanging arch enemies) were this
time gathered half dozen elements, to
which the dictatorship is utterly dis
Notwithstanding chiefly, the strong
ly organized Conservative party.
After the Valencia uprising missed
fire, at least so leaders of the conspiracy
were arrested by the government. In adj
clifton to Sanchez Guerra the following
important leaders now face trial: Gen.
Castro Girona. who was captain general
Of the Valencia garrison until the mo-
lnent of the uprising: Gen. Guerpo de
Llano, former minister of war; Senior
Vincente PINES, former minister of pub
lie works, and Senior Melquiades Alva-
rez, author and chief Of the Reform
lists party. All of these are men of in
huence and position in Spain, and as
ISOLATED with them were many others,
equally important, whom the govern
ment has been unable definitely to link
with the planned rebellion.
An official statement issued by the
dictator declared all the "discontented