The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-16

nave 10 T6VdIIlp L1Ic1I dOtClC
Gibraltar is still a most i'm
posing sight. 1t juts out into
the Mediterranean with all the
authority of the British Empire
which rules 1t. Its artillery en-
placements are so cleverly con-
cealed that the strongest binocu-
lars cannot locate them. It's
placid, rocky surface covers a
labyrinth of underground pas
sageways connecting a series Of
the most powerful big guns in
existence. 1t has elevators
running far down to arsenals
stocked to Withstand a siege Of
months.
: But all that painstaking
preparation is about to be rem
dered useless by one develop
ment, now recognized as plain
ly as the nose on your face by
all those who have watched the
Spanish revolution. IL is this:
In order to get German and
italian airplanes, aviators, and
munitions without which he would
have been defeated long ago,
General Franco has made the
following promises:
l. Italy gets the Balearic
Isles strategically placed just
inside the Mediterranean and
capable of controlling its west
ern bottleneck into the At
lantic.
2. Germany gets the Spanish
colonies in Africa, chiefly Span
ish Morocco, whcih is direct
ly opposite Gibraltar, and ca
pabale of multiplying the power
the British batteries so care
fully hidden inside the rock.
PROSTATE Spain
This deal is a proposition of
Heads Germany and Italys win;
tails Spain loses"
For even If General Franco is
defeated-as is now beginning to
appear likely-Hitler and Musso-
lini will go ahead with the deal
Just the same. The only differ
ence will be that instead Of claim
ing Spanish colonies in payment
for the munitions they have given
Franco, they will attempt to take
them in the role of protectors
Of Europe against Communism"
A PROSTATE Spain, no matter
which way the war goes, will be
able only to protest. And 1t is
doubtful that Britain, rapidly
arming but still unarmed, will
risk war, even though the proud
might Of Gibraltar is punctured.
NOTE-England always wanted
the Balearic Isles and Spanish
Morocco to remain in weak hands
Spain. King Alfonso was de-
dicedly pro-British, and an Eng
lish princess also sat on the Span
ish throne. More than, once
Spanish premiers wanted to re-
linquish barren Spanish Morocco,
but Alfonso and the British OPP
posed. They opposed even such
REIMBURSEMENT to France,
friendly power.
No Real Peace
There Is no question in the
minds of impartial observers Of
the sympathies Of the bulk OF
the Spanish people. They are
overwhelmingly with the Spanish
government.
Furthermore, the use of black
troops and the Foreign Legion
which have borne the brunt OF
Frances fighting-has increased
the bitterness against the Fascist
revolutionaries. Finally, many
Spaniards have come to realize
that Franco is heavily mortgaged
to Hitler and Mussolini, and that
II he wins Spain will have to pay
a large bill.
This has played a leading role
in the tightening Of the loyalist
morale and vigor the last few
weeks. Franco cannot possibly
win now without direct Italian or
German intervention-and that
would mean war in Europe.
Busy Portugal
One of the most prosperous
ports In this part Of Europe Is
Lisbon, capital Of Portugal, which
Is bordered on its north and
west by Spain. Its port is crowd
ed with ships. Its streets hum
with activity.
Lisbon Is one Of the chief CEN
tiers for munition- running to
General Franco and the Spanish
Fascists. 1t is only a stones
throw across the border and no
one at the border pays airy at
tention to what is being run
across.
Most interesting fact is that
Portugal always has been DOM
mated by Great Britain. still Is.
The British, had they desired,
probably could have stopped
Portuguese gun-running long
ago - Just rs they were able to
persuade the Portuguese to give
them exclusive cable and avia-
tlon privileges in the Azores
when they wanted to buck
Western Union and Pan Ameri-