Somaten!*

Somaten!*

Revolution. A revolution in Spain had been expected for months, yet when it came it had the appearance of rising like a wind in the night. Originating in Barcelona, under the leadership of the redoubtable General Primo Rivera, the revolution is an almost exact analogy to the Fascist revolution of last year in Italy, which started in Milan; both these places are chief industrial centers, where the doctrines of socialism and communism were most securely rooted. It appears that all good Spaniards went to bed one night only to awaken next morning to find that a revolution had taken place, apparently without resistance and without bloodshed. Everyone accepted the new Government somewhat sheepishly, and the economic life of the country was undisturbed one jot or tittle.

The Dictator. "I had to do this for Spain. The country has been ruined by politicians, and we hope to put it back in the grand place Spain occupied in the past. I took a desperate chance, but life and country were at stake." These were the words of Marquis de Estella, Lieutenant General Bon Miguel Primo Rivera, Captain General f of Catalonia, Spanish Mussolini.

Exit the Premier. In Madrid the Alhucemas Government pleaded in vain with King Alfonso (who returned hurriedly to the capital from Satander on the Bay of Biscay, where he had just won two races with his yacht Giralda IV in the annual Royal Regatta), to obtain power to put down the revolution. The Ministry then resigned, and the King recognized the revolution by royal decree, appointing General Don Miguel Primo Rivera virtual Dictator--" President of the National Directorate"

Directorate. General Primo Rivera as President constituted the National Directorate as follows: Generals Adolfo Espasno, Luis Navarro, Luis Hermoso, Dalmacio Rodriguez, Antonio Mayenda, Gomez Jordana, Ruiz Portal, Mario Muslera, Admiral Marquis Mavoz.

Cause. The revolution undoubtedly owes its origin indirectly to the Fascist revolution in Italy, although it is important to remember that the military clique in Spain has existed for a long time and has enjoyed considerable power. If the revolution was of Fascist origin it was nevertheless based upon a desire to annihilate political corruption, which has been rampant in Spain for decades. To this must be added the indecisive handling of the War in Morocco against Abdel-Krim, leader of the Riffs. To give one specific instance of corruption is to mention the case of Don Santiago Alba, the Foreign Minister, who was ousted with the Alhucemas Cabinet.

Don Alba. Don Alba, a descendant of the famous Grandee family of Spain, entered politics a year before the War. He rapidly became a rich man, so rich that it was said that his money alone was enough to debar him from the Spanish Court. His wife, who is very beautiful, managed to advertise his wealth ostentatiously, and thereby aroused more jealousy, criticism and suspicion. When the revolution became a fait accompli, Don Alba was in San Sebastian, on the Franco-Spanish border, but he rapidly crossed the frontier to Biarritz in order to avoid arrest. The National Directorate charged him with:

1) Increasing the subsidy to Raisuli (see page 9) and other Moroccan chiefs from 2,000,000 to 20,000,000 pesetas without accounting for this expenditure.

2) Becoming lawyer for tobacco smugglers and accepting huge fees in return for which he protected them against prosecution by the Spanish tobacco monopoly.

3) Complicity in smuggling French armaments into the Spanish zone.

He is to be tried in his absence.

Effects. After setting up the National Directorate, the first act of the Dictators Avas to suspend the Constitution and dissolve the Cortes (Spanish Parliament). Red chiefs were arrested and imprisoned, except in cases where they had succeeded in crossing the frontier of France or Portugal. All the civil governors were dismissed. Don Luis Silvela, Spanish High Commissioner for Morocco, was replaced by General Aizpuru Mondejas, who was endowed with " full powers to crush Abdel Krim and retrieve the honor of the Spanish Army." Meanwhile Spain is to be governed by an oligarchy of virtual despots until such a time as "another better Cortes which will represent the people's will" can be convened. An election is to be held in the future " in which the electors, unfettered by allegiance to any political group, will pronounce their will." A national militia is to be organized on the model of the Italian Faseista national Militia. Said General Rivera: " For that we are waiting until each of the nine military regions furnish us with 50,000 men, constituting thus an admirable civic guard. In order to become a member of this guard a recruit must be an honest man, resolved to maintain public order."

* War cry of the Catalans. Usual meanIng: armed corps for defence of a city or province. Tne present adaptation Is the equivalent of " Fascismo," Implying the synthesis of the entire national energy.

t The rank of Captain-General is that given to a commander of a military district, of which there are nine In Spain, including one in Morocco.