Evening star., 1939-03-28
Britoin's Navy
Asks Ban on
FIogging
Bv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 28.-The British
government disclosed today that the
admiralty had asked 1t to abolish
the centuries-old punishment Of
flogging in the British Navy.
This was announced to House OF
Commons committee considering the
governments criminal justice bill.
Favorable action was indicated.
ntil 1881 the cato tails
frequently was used for various
breaches of discipline. Corporal
punishment now is authorized. how
ever. only for mutiny and closely
allied offenses" in peace time. the
maximum sentence being IS lasheS.
trality plan by imposing an embargo
on arms shipments to either side.
But there was pressure on Washing
ton. Paris and London by Spanish
government sympathizers who want
ed aid to Madrid as counter to
Rome Berlin help for Gen. Franco.
An increase of Italian and German
aid to Nationalists led to French and
British protests.
Tension first came to a head ON
May 81, 1887. when the German
pocket battleship Deutschland
shelled the Spanish government port
of Almeria in reprisal for lombard
ment of the vessel at the Mediter-
ranean Island Of Ibiza by govern
ment planes.
Crisis SmOthered.
This crisis was SmOthered in con-
ference rooms, only to give way to
another. France and Britain had
refused to grant belligerent rights
to Gen. Franco SO that he might es-
tablish legal blockade of the gov
ernment coast. but a partially ef-
fective blockade by submarines and
aircraft was established about GOV
ernment Spain.
BY September. 1887, some 80 ships,
q number of them British, had been
attacked by undersea or air craft.
France, Britain and Soviet Russia
called the attacks piracy" and
called a conference to end them.
Russia openly accused Italy of a
part in the blockade.
The conference set up an anti
piracy" patrol and the attacks
stopped. Then neutrality friction
centered on the question of with
draWal of foreign troops. The
Spanish government set home its
International Brigade in 1898 in
compliance with non-intervention
plan. Italy withdrew 10000 Black
shirts but left a sizeable force.
In the closing days of the war
both England and France saw q
danger to their vital sea lanes II
Germany and Italy obtained Span
lsh bases from which those routes
could be attacked.
They made friendly overtures to
Gen. Franco. recognized his govern
ment on February q, and consid-
cred plans to aid Spanish recon-
German influence.
The influence concerned France
the most. for she feared Italy might
use a nationalist victory as a lever
with which to pry pieces from the
Mediterranean Empire that has
been major source OF French
strength.
Negrin Regime Overthrown.
On March 5 Gen. Segismundo
Casado seized power In Madrid from
Premier Juan Negrin in q sudden
bloodless coup. A National Defense
Council was set up, with the Repub-
lican commander in chief, Gen. Jose
Miaja, as the president and with a
program of honorable peace"
Premier Negrin and his ministers
fled to France or French North
Africa.
Two days later, Communists, who
had not been included in the new
regime, revolted against Gen. Mai S
peace program. For four days
there was bloody fighting in the
streets of Madrid. "a civil war within
civil war"
Communist insurrectionists almost
surrounded the city and cut it off
from Valencia until Gen. Miaja sum-
moned reinforcements and forced
the Communists to surrender.
Peace negotiations then were re-
sumed, leading to today's capitula-
ton by Col. Alfonso Prada, whom
Gen. Miaja had left in command
on his departure, apparently for
Valencia and possible haven
abroad.