Evening star., 1937-07-19
Spain's Second Year.

Compared to our Civil War, Spain's
conflict, which enters upon its second
year today, is in its infancy Yet the
loss IN life, property and spiritual
values begins to measure up formidablv
to the toll taken by the struggle between
the American States. Just what the
rebellion has already cost in blood and
treasure will probably never be known.
According to the government, at least a
million Spaniards, soldiers and civilians,
have been killed, while at least double
that number have been manned, with
material damage wrought by artillery
and air attacks reaching inestimable
dimensions. From one end to another.
the land of Ferdinand and Isabella is
scene OF desolation and ruin, as fratri-
cldal strife mergcS into another cycle of
devastation, horror and hate.
From strictly military standpoint,
the war is at a stalemate. Notwithstand-
ing 1nsugent progress in the early
months and both Loyalist and Insurgent
victories this year, neither side today is
within sight of decisive triumph. On
points the rebels appear to have
achieved the major successes. General
Frances forces hold tWo-thiros of Spain.
including 81 out of so provincial capitals.
all the colonies and six of eleven cities
Of over 100000 population, such as
Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Cor
doba and Granada. But the Insurgents
have not taken the supreme prize.
Madrid, despite siege which has ragged
with intermittent fury since November.
Until the ancient capital falls, victory
in final sense will be denied Franco.
Around ton the broad Castilian pla-
teau In which the government is con-
centrating Loyalist forces-the war will
be won or lost. Madrid is SPANS natural
fortress. Whoever dominates it holds
the key to the peninsula. The semi
wrecked city has become the symbol of
domination.
While Loyalists and Insurgents grid
themselves for conclusive contest for
supremacy, their grapple remains
danger to European peace and potential
cause OF international conflagration.
Sorry an account OF itself as the 27-
power 'non-intervention" committee of
London has given, it has contrived to
prevent general war, and, under
British spur, IS even now making an
intensive effort to assure continued
localization of the fighting. FOREIGN
participation hitherto has taken place on
a notorious scale. The Insurgents have
been supported by tens of thousands OF
so-called Italian and German "volun-
teers' and by Italo-German equipment,
while the Loyalists have had powerful
aid from Soviet Russia, especially air
craft, which receives chief credit for
enabling the government to maintain
the defense of Madrid, along with the
services of an effective anti-Fascist
international brigade
Inc outside worlds abiding interest in
SPANS tragedy, apart from compassion
for brave peoples suffering, lies in the
hope that its heroic sacrifice may
speedily be brought to an end. With the
underlying conflict between rival polit-
ical ideologies, mainly fascism and COM
munism, most other nations are rela-
lively unconcerned though Great Brit
ain and France would not view with
equanimity an Italo-G -German-d dominated
Spain astride the Mediterranean. On
both sides of the long and sanguinary
combat Spaniards have fought with epic
courage and Spartan endurance. 1t is
the fervent wish Of Spain's friends that
peace may soon come to the striken
peninsula, and, with it, banishment of
the peril of another world war.