Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-06-10
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page u
A Severe Blow.

To the Spanish rebel forces beseig-
severe blow that their general, Emilio
Mola, a few days ago was killed in
an airplane accident. He was one
of General Francisco Frances out
standing strategists, and he had sue
ceeded in subduing the dissensions
raging within the rebel group which
is made up of factions disagreeing
on everything else but this one-to
crush the legitimist government AS
soon as he died, there were indi-
cations of internal struggle, and that
would, of course, weaken the force
of the rebel army. The defenders of
Bilbao took immediate advantage of
the situation and directed violent
counter-attacks against the rebels,
with, it seems, some measure of sue
cess.
1t is understood that General Fran
CO, in view of this situation, is pre-
pairing to take strong measures for the
purpose of insuring the collapse of
the Bilbao defense, for that means
almost everything to him, in this
respect, that if he captures that city,
he will be able to release that very
considerable part of his army for
use in attacking Madrid, still with
standing attack.
Expert military-and somewhat I'M
biased-opinion is now that the rebels
cannot win the war unless foreign
aid is rushed in, and that is pre-
cisely the point where other dangers
are feared.
Roman Conversations.
For, in Rome conversations have
been in progress between Mussolini
and the German minister of war,
General Werner Won Blomberg, and
it is said that while they have not
agreed on the terms of an actual
military alliance, they have arrived
at what it is, softly speaking, known
as an understanding.
That would, in view of the general
unrest prevailing, be serious enough,
but for the moment it is far more
serious that the two gentlemen are
reported to have been discussing
plans for joint support of General
Franco in his efforts to capture Bill
bao. Should Italy and Germany to-
gether, and in an organized manner,
actually invade Spain for the pur-
pose of helping a rebel chieftan-
that, of course, would amount to di-
rect invasion of foreign territory. In
other words, it would be war.
Fear Diminished.
But asSuaging words come from
Germany; the other day Adolf Hitler,
chief executive of the German gov
eminent, told a mass meeting at
Regensburg that-to quote-"in spite
of recent happenings in Spain, Ger
many has no intention of starting
a war today, tomorrow or day after
tomorrow"
How literally that is to be taken,
depends on ones Interpretation of
the calendar. 1t also depends upon
the definition of the term, starting
a war" No nation has ever Off
cially admitted starting" a war. 1t
is always the other fellow who does
the Starting part of that ugly bust
ness.
There are, however, other indica-
tons that make it fairly clear that no
war is in the offing One is that
Germany, despite military expansion
and boasting, is in no financial posi-
ton to go to war. Another is that
Germany cannot risk jeopardizing
the passive friendship of Great Brit
ain.
British Influence.
British foreign policy makes its
grievous plumbers, and it has made
great many. But if one averages
the cases where world peace was
at stake, the sum total might show
that British influence has very, very
often been determining the course of