Evening star., 1938-08-10
Francois Weakness.

Francois Weakness.
Inability of Generalissimo Francisco
Franco to bring the Spanish civil war to
a speedy conclusion with a decisive VIC
tory over the Loyalists will certainly
have repercussions in European politics,
and perhaps not the most desirable
repercussions for those who have hoped
to liquidate the Spanish war as dis
turbing factor.
When the Loyalists were beaten back
to the Mediterranean seacoast in April
and the Insurgents succeeded in cutting
government Spain in two 1t appeared
that the final cleanup Of Loyalist Spain
was only a matter of q few weeks, or
few months at the most, but the sur
prising resistance which the militiamen
of General Jose Miaja have displayed
against the combined mechanical and
human forces of the rebels has been a
surprise not only to the Francoists, but
to the world as well.
Even more recently the mechanical
legions of the Fascists appeared Ger
tain to invest Valencia and then to
sweep Southeastern Spain, but the sud-
den deft blow which the Loyalists dealt
with their drive across the Ebro two
weeks ago has tied General Frances
plans in knots and the prospect is that If
he is to win at all it will take all Of this
year and part Of next.
The amazing fight the Loyalists have
waged against the most modern death
dealing weapons Germany and Italy
could provide will certainly be recorded
in history as proof that highly organ
lied and determined human beings are
far superior to tanks, airplanes. and ar
tillery. There appears to be on the
Loyalist side a degree of enthusiasm
which is absent among the rebels. Gen.
eral Franco is forced to rely upon his
Moorish and italian troops and German
experts to carry forward the war, for the
purely Spanish portion Of his forces is
mostly composed of conscripts from the
conquered areas, men in slight sympathy
with his purposes who 60 to the front
lethargic and resigned to fight for the
dictator or face prison or the firing
squad.
What does 1t all mean for Europe?
Certainly prolonged delay in the "set-
tlement" of the Spanish question which
is so vital to Prime Minister Chamber
lain and his policy Of appeasement, as it
is exemplified in the Anglo-1talian
agreement. Premier Mussolini cannot
reasonably be expected to pull his le-
gions out of Spain as long as the Loyal
lists carry out coups as they have the
past two weeks, drawing machines and
men away from the heavy rebel con-
centrations near Valencia.
1t means that the Spanish question Is
going to remain for considerable time
yet to plague the searchers for peace In
Europe, although it may serve for the
moment to divert the attention Of Hitler
and Mussolini away from Czechoslovakia.
1t is doubtful whether Mussolini would
care to undertake any very heavy COM
mitments with respect to Czechoslovakia
as long as the question Of the Medi-
terranean remains open, and that ques-
ton cannot be settled until the Anglo
Italian agreement goes into force.
The element of time works in favor OF
the Loyalists, and the longer they stave
off decisive defeat the better are the
chances of all Spain ultimately rising
against the rebel cause and expelling
the Italian and German forces from the
peninsula. When that time comes Eu-
rope may be faced with a more trouble
some problem if the dictators attempt
to maintain their foothold in Spain
against the united onslaught Of the
Spanish people.