The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-06
Republican Armies In
 Control Of Loyalists
tcOntinued from Page I,

(Ccntinued tory: Andalusia, in the south, and Estremadura, in the west.
 Negrin and the Communists with whom he co-operated had insisted on a fight to the finish. MiaJa had said that such a fight would shed Spanish blood uselessly. Juan Bes- teriro, one of the members of the new council, was known to be a moderate who had long sought peace. There were no Communists and no Negrinites on the new council.
 Peace Discussion Asked
 One of Casado's first acts after he and the other council members had seized power was to invite the Nationalists to discuss peace.
 "If you offer us peace you will find generous Spanish hearts" he said in a radio broadcast.
 It was possible to tell today the dramatic events which were part of the overthrow of Negrin.
 Casado and his associates decided to act yesterday when they heard that there had been mutiny at Cartagena, the Republican navy base-a revolt which, 1t was aI1- nounced was completely suppressed.
 At noon Sunday Casedo called in- to conference the men with whom he later formed the council.
 In order to avoi dpublic attention, Casado called the meeting at his general army headquarters. It was decided to overthrow the govern ment. Casado quietly checked with all key army men on the Madrid front and waited for night to an- nounce his coup.
 Writer Discusses Crisis
 When I arrived at the general headquarters in the evening sen- try barred my way, despite my special pass giving me access to Casado.
 It had been apperent that some thing big was happening and I sensed at once that Negrin had been overthrown. I waited at the door of the headquarters building. As car after car whizzed up, and more and more leaders went inside, 1t became apparents that a rumor, cir- culated for days, that a civil and military committee would be formed to bring the war to an end was be- ginning to be confirmed.
 Other newspaper men arrived, Casado's adjutant came out and in- vited us into the building. He said he was going to order the outer door barred and that if we did go in we would be there four or five hours. We decided to go in, and were taken to 8 room adjoining that in which Casado was holding his conference. The new leaders were preparing radio broadcast of state- ments and speeches announcing the overthrow.
 Overthrow Announced We waited all evening. The bells of the ministry interior had just struck midnight when the radio in our room started up. We easily rec ognized the firm voice of Juan Best eiro who announced the overthrow and the succession of the council. Then the others spoke.
 Telephones bagen to ring. People were calling Casado to congratu- late him and promise support. Pauline Gomez, minister of inter- for in Negrin's cabinet, called from some point on the coast and asked permission to come to Madrid. Cas- ado told him his presence was in- valuable.
 The next telephone caller was old Gen. Moaja, the defender of Madrid. CaSado at once asked him to come to Madrid.
 Threatens Any Violence
 People began to telephone pro- testing against the coup and threat ening violent action. Casado calmly told each one that any attempt at violence would be handled strongly.
 Throughout the night, he remain ed at the telephone, checking ar- engagements with various leaders, in- structing army unit commanders and leaders of special corps, and redis- tributing his forces in view of the IACW oAtudtlOAA. L1C tOlU CfCIy uAdll " whom he talked that he would exact the m" mum of obedience.
 In A earl morning, army men took ,ession of all official cen- ters to quietly that nothing was known by most people until they got on the streets this morning.
 By that time, Casado had received messages of support from the Lev- ant, Andalusia, and Estremadura armies.
 CasadO Makes Statement
 In the radio program announcing the overthrow of Negrin, Casado broadcast the following statement to the Nationalist government in the name of the defense council:
 "In your hands, not ours, is the peace which Spain needs to recover and to end the bloody war which is weakening it and placing 1t at the service of invaders Choose! If you offer us peace you will find generous Spanish hearts. If you continue to make war against us and against