Evening star., 1937-02-21
Continued From First Page.)

under German domination or in alli-
ance with Germany would be q great
menace to the British Empire in the
event Of war. With the Germans or
Fascist Spaniards established with
German help In Spanish Morocco, the
great naval base Of Gibraltar would
be useless for the British feet. This
harbor could be bombarded by long
range cannon from the other side of
the straits; and a harbor which can
be bombarded Is an embarrassment
to any navy. The task of maintain
ing the sea communications and trade
routes through the Mediterranean
would be rendered far more difficult
with q hostile Spain.
Nor Is this all. .-
From the Atlantic coast Of Spanish
Morocco, from the Spanish Canary
Islands and the Spanish Gold Coast.
cruisers and submarines operating in
the South Atlantic would menace
British communications around the
Cape Of Good Hope to India.
These facts are known to the
British cabinet, to the British ad-
miralty and to the British general
staff. But because there is a govern
ment of the Right in power in Britain.
British policy, while not openly favor
able to the rebels in Spain, has shown
itself sympathetic from the very be-
ginning. For fear Of public opinion
in Britain q pretense of strict neu-
trality has been attempted-this de-
ceives nobody. If it is Q choice be-
tween a Fascist Spain and a Social
ist or Radical Spain, the present gov
eminent in London would. choose Q
Fascist Spain without hesitation.
This class-feeling policy is not NJ "
in European politics, but in the past
it was exercised by a small aris-
tocracy. One hundred and twenty
years ago 1t expressed itself in the
holy alliance between Russia, Austria
and Prussia. formed for the main
tenance of the monarchial system
against republicanism. In 1916, after
the fall of Napoleon, the sovereigns
Of these three states-who meant, in
those days, the governments-pledged
themselves to maintain the monarch.
ial system at home and abroad and
to use their influence and power to
check republicanism, and even par
uamentarianism, in all countries.
The holy alliance was the counter
part of the German-Japanese- Italian
understanding against Communism
at the present time. German and
Italian efforts, in particular, at the
moment are directed to drawing
Britain into the league and detaching
France from Russia - incidentally
breaking up what remains of the
League of Nations. If they succeed
it will be the end Of wisconsin in
Europe, still surviving in the League
Of Nations.
1t is not possible to prophesy the
outcome, but such development was
unheard of a few years ago and may
be regarded as a direct outcome of the
civil war in Spain. 1t may have the
most far-reaching results.
Government Lacked Arms.
Now for the military lessons.
Once more it is being shown that
volunteers, or men fighting for cause
in which they believe, given nearly
equal equipment, will defeat pressed
men who are half-hearted and mer-
cenaries. The rebellion in Spair
would have succeeded long ago but fol
this fact. At the beginning the rebel.
not only had the military machinery
and organization, and nearly all the
officers, but also most of the equip.
ment
In Catalonia the military revolt wa.
crushed by peasants and workmer
fighting with any weapons they coult
improvise or lay hands on. and il
some cases with their bare fists. The
rebel artillery in Barcelona. manned
by officers and sergeants, was charged
and overwhelmed by workmen in mo.
tor cars, armed with axes and ham.
mers Without the aid of Italian sne
German soldiers, Gen. Frances move.
ment would have been crushed lons
ago. If it succeeds it will be because
between 20 and 80 thousand we'll
equipped German and Italian soldier.
under their own officers have beer
thrown into the struggle.
If, at the beginning, the Spanish
government had had enough rifles te
arm its followers, the rebels woulc
have been driven into the sea. Anc
this despite disorganization, dissen.
sions and the chronic parochialism oi
Spaniards who even now look upor
themselves first as the inhabitants oi
province and secondly as citizens OF
nation.
On the other hand, the civil wal
has proved once more-and the lessor
has been underlined-that weapon
superiority gives q tremendous ad.
vantage. The early conquerors o.
Africa and America had this weapon
superiority in their primitive firearms
Today rifles are Of little account once
battle is joined.
Airplanes, tanks, modern artillery
these give an immense advantage
over mere masses. The Spanish gov.
ernment has had too much mar
power and too few modern weapons
Simply because Gen. Franco had few
soldiers he could trust in the fighting
line, other than his Moors and q few