The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-02-19
SPAIN A TESTING GROUND FOR
WAR MACHINES

/
situation In war torn Spain:
The average citizen has heard rela-
lively little of foreign affairs lately.
Events at home-the election, the
converting of Congress, the strikes,
the unprecedented floods in the Mid
die West and South-have taken all
his attention.
Yet the foreign situation has grown
steadily more menacing.
In Spain, for example, a civil war
is going on. Everyone knows that.
What everyone doesn't know is that
general European war, on small
scale, is likewise going on in Spain.
All the major nations have paid lip
service to the cause of neutrality in
Spanish affairs-but the fact re-
mains, according to- every fact-fnd-
ing newspaperman who has returned
from the Spanish battlefronts, that
several European nations have troops
actively engaged in Spanish battles,
are supplying one side or the other
with airplanes, rifles, cannon, ammu-
milton and food. For instance, when
the rebellion began, rebel leader
Franco had almost no tanks-now he
has great numbers of the most up-to-
date type. And the loyalists had no
air force worthy of the name-now
they have a considerable number o
fairly modern, well-armed ships.
Principal nations are Russia, Ger
many, Italy and France. Germany
and Italy side with the rebels, who
are Fascistic in tendency and pur.
pose. Russia and France side with
the loyalists, who include Commu
nists, Socialists, Syndicalists and Re-
publicans.
To what extent are these foreign
nations taking an active interest in
Spain? Vivid answer is supplied by
Major Al Williams, famous racing
pilot, who recently made European
tour for the purpose of evaluing
Europe's air armadas. According to
Major Williams, zone pilot, who had
served in the rebela army, told me
it was getting tough for a native to
find something to do in that civil
war. Russia, Germany, Italy and
France had all but taken it over for
warming-up esssion of their new
war machines"
Finally, why are these nations mix
ing in a civil war that, theoretically,
is none of their business; The an
swer to that is two-fold.
First, there is good chance that
loyalist victory would result in the
esta blishment of a communist regime
in Spain. Italy and Germany, lead
ing fascist powers, are determined to
do everything possible to prevent
that-it would threaten their hopes
for the gradual extension of fascism
through all Europe. By the same
token, a rebel victory would be fol-
lowed by a fascist Spanish govern
ment, as General Franco has said.
And France and Russia feel that if
that happened, they would be put n
great danger, inasmuch as they would
be surrounded by unfriendly nations.
The second phase of the answer is
given by intimation in the quotation
from Major Williams. The chatter
of diplomats to the contrary, it is
reasonable assumption that Europe
would be at war now If the antagon-
istic powers were not held back by
fear of each others possible strength.
1t is no secret that Germany would
attack France tomorrow, if she were
confident she could win-and that
France would do the same thing,
given the same assurance. Civil war
in Spain is providing these powers
with chance to try out their fight
/ ing equipment-and the General
Stats are watching with undated
interest. ..-...
This international civil war" has
killed thousands Of Spaniards. 1t
/ has laid Spain waste. And it is, per-
haps, preparing the way toward the
most sanguinary general conflict in
world history. Today all Europe is
an armed camp-and its weapons are
infinitely greater both in number and
potential destructiveness then before
the World War. 1t is very possible
that if one of the powers becomes
satisfied that the tests" made in
Spain show it to be superior to a
neighboring unfriendly power, the
blow-off will come with breathtaking
suddenness.
So far as America is concerned,
the State Department obviously real
ICES the dangers in Europe-is seek
ing TO formulate an equitable and