Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06

King received them. He explained that
he had been too worried to complete
the text OF his abdication and would
have it ready the first thing Wednesday
nothing.
Sparring for time, Alfonso, who had
sworn that born a king, he would die
king" was moving the pawns fran
tically. Old Royalists. heretofore
stanch supporters, seeing the hand
writing On the wall, were adamanS 70
his pleas. promises and threats and
would not rally around a sinking ship.
The crafty Bourbon knew the conse-
quences of martial law and also knew
the lives of the royal family were at
stake. During the afternoon, when he
was supposed to have been writing his
abdication, he was going over the
ground with Gen. Calvacanti and other
generals. in preparation for a new mill
tary dictatorship-not a mild. good
tempered rule like Primo de Riveras
had been, but the steel helmet and iron
fist If he could hold on through the
night, the loyal part Of the army would
swing into action at dawn.
Signs Martial Law.
At o'clock, when the abdication
document was due. the military gov
ernor of Madrid. FREDERICK Berenguer,
took another document to the palace
the decree Of martial law Alfonso
signed it and issued orders that it was
to be promulgated officially at pm
Outside the palace things were NOV
ing swiftly. The troops were still in
their barracks. The Civil Guard was
waiting orders. The populace Of Madrid
was restive-waiting for the promised
abdication and little dreaming that
their genial King was preparing cold
lead for their reception a few hours
later.
Over at headquarters of the Civil
Guard another drama was unfolding
Gen. Sanjurjo, sworn to preserve order
and protect the lives Of Madrid's citi-
zenS, heard the report from the palace
that the Aznar dictatorship would re-
sign at pm. and summoned the chief
subordinate officers OF the Civil Guard
for conference. He put the question
bluntly, Were they prepared to take
orders from the provisional republican
government? They were-almost unan-
imously. Gen. Sanjurjo did not need
to recall more than once the hurilia-
ton that Alfonso had inflicted on the
easy-going Primo de Rivera when the
horses in midstream because OF the
rising tide of opposition TO the Rivera
regime One thing Alfonso is not con-
sidered-that is loyal Even among
Rovalists his vengefulness is a byword.
To go from the headquarters of the
Guard Civil to the palace again. On
emerging, the Aznar cabinet was greet
ed by newspaper men awaiting news OF
the abdication. The reporters were
told to come back tomorrow" Instead
CT telephoning his office, one Of them
called the home of Senior Maura, where
the provisional government" was gath
cred Sensing treachery-most Of the
leaders had at one time or another been
in Alfonso's cabinet or in his prisons
they summoned IA taxicabs and the
entire group drove to the ministry of
interior The building was deserted.
Gaining entrance through a side door,
they determined upon direct action.
Then in walked the doughty Gen.
Sanjurjo.
Gentlemen, I have come 10 place
the Guard Civil under the orders of
the provisional republican government.
What is your pleasure?"
Instructions given to keep the troops
in their barracks and for the Guard to
aid the police, inoffensively, in main
tanning order. Gen. Sanjurjo was dis
patched to the royal palace. to request
King Alfonso to leave the country i'm
mediately, otherwise the provisional au-
thorities could not guarantee the per-
conal safety of the King or his fol-
lowers.
Proceeds to Palace.
Gen. Sanjurjo proceeded to the
palace. The provisional government"
waited. Crowds filled the streets.
Il have come on behalf of the pro-
ViSional government to request that
your majesty leave Spain Immediately"
Gen. Sanjurjo informed Alfonso when
he was ushered before the royal pres
ence. In his minds eye he must have
pictured a similar moment. not so long
before, when Alfonso. smiling cynically,
had told Gen. Primo de Rivera as the
latter begged for few days Of grace
to save his honor and pride:
You must go-now!"
According to eyewitnesses Alfonso's
swarthy face turned pale.
WHAT" he demanded
Is as few words as possible Gen.
Sanjurjo explained that the Civil Guard
had gone over to the republicans.
Turning to Admiral Marquis Majaz,
the King asked:
Has martial law been proclaimed"
1t was nearing 9 pm. Another hour
and soldiers would have been pouring
into the streets of Madrid, Zaragossa
Alicante. Burgos and other cities. BY
midnight the provisional government
might have been dead in dramatic
attempt at resistance.
Admiral JAZZ made no reply. He
merely nodded in the negative.
That changes the situation" was
King Alfonso's only remark as he
turned to his private Office and took
from the desk sealed envelope. He
handed it to Gen. Sanjurjo.
In another hour a high-powered
motor car flanked by machines carry
ing members of the Guard Civil,
emerged quietly from a back entrance
to the royal grounds overlooking the
river. and started its mad drive for the
Mediterranean.
Thus passed Alfonso. A. Z. j.