Franco and the new Spanish leaders [essay]

Title

Language

English

Source

Panorama 4 (5) May 1939

Year

1939

Subject

Spain--History

Soldier--Spain

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

Condensed from News Review.

Fulltext

1!Get acquainted with present Spain. FRANCO AND THE NEW SPANISH LEADERS REBEL GENERAL FRANCO became Spain's Government last March. Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teodulo Franco y Bahamonde, Spain's master, is a short, pudgy, black-haired man who likes golf, loves Hollywood movies, rides around in an American car and neither drinks nor smokes. He speaks Italian, German, French and English-the last with an Oxford accent. He is respected by many English aristocrats as a "true gentleman." With women he is a general favourite. Like the Mikado of Japan, he writes poetry. Once he turned out a book on his experiences as an army leader in Africa, named it The Story of the First Battalion. His parents wanted little Francisco to be an architect or an artist, but he chose an Army career. Going to Toledo's famous Military Academy, he graduated as a First Lieutenant, and went to Morocco. In one battle he was shot through the stomach and lung. Captain at 20, Major at 23, Lieutenant - Colonel at 30, Franco became a General at 32. When Primo de Rivera became Spain's Dictator he was made 10 superintendent of the military academy at Saragossa. After the Leftist election victory in 19 3 6, there were rumours that Franco was plotting a revolt. But the general swore to President Manuel Azana that he was loyal, and the credulous President was so pleased that he nearly made him chief of the presidential guard of honour. Other Republicans were more wary, saw to it that he was given the far-away post of Governor of the Canaries. On July 19, 1936, he flew to Morocco, and the revolt broke out. Leader of the rebellion was to have been General Jose Sanjurjo, who broke his neck in a plane crash trying to fly to Spain from Portugal. Franco became El Caudillo, The Leader. Idol of his men, Franco is also idyllic in his family life. His wife, whom he married when she was 15, is 16 years his junior. They have one daughter. Upon the surrender of the capital of Catalufia on the last days of February, some 80,000 men with tanks and artillery filed past a balcony in Barcelona's Diagonal Avenue-renamed A venida del Caudillo. PANORAMA There stood the Generalissimo saluting each unit as it passed. On his left was General Fidel Davila, short moustached Minister of War and Commanderin-Chief of the Army in Catalonia. Behind were ranked Ministers and army leaders, including gaunt General Queipo de Llano, the Commander in the south, famed for his radio warfare. At the head of the procession rode General Gambara, Commander of the Italian Legionaries, a thickly built man astride a huge chestnut horse. Then came the Italian Littorio and Arrow Divisions, their brandnew equipment gleaming in the sun. The Army Corps of Aragon followed in war-worn uniforms and forage caps, tramping along with studied carelessness. The red berets of the Navarra troops and the red fezes of the Moors brought up the rear. While General Franco's Government was putting up this imposing show of strength and unity a busy tug of war was going on behind the scenes. Extremists and Moderates were struggling for power within the Burgos Junta. In Burgos and throughout Spain, the extremist element is represented by the Phalangists (Fascists) whose creed is "national syndicalism." They have MAY, 1939 the younger, most fanatical men in their ranks. The moderate side is made up by Monarchists, who have more money, experience and tradition. Their aim is to put on the throne Don Juan, Prince of Asturias, son of Alfonso XIII. A Phalangist attempt to turn out the Conservatives in April. 19 3 7, led to the arrest of many of their champions. Fascist leader Manuel Hedilla, was shot. Some have said he is hiding in Holland. From that moment dates the rapid rise of Ramon Serrano Suner, General Franco's brotherin-law, and Minister of lnter10r. Only 38, Suner is today the No. 1 man of the Government's extremist wing. He studied law at Bologna and Rome, came back to Spain as a disciple of Mussolini. In the Cortes he proposed the amnesty which gave back their posts to Milan Astray and other Generals who later served the Rebel cause. In early 19 3 6 he organised the meeting between the Duce and Astry at which Mussolini promised his support. Suner was imprisoned by the Left when the civil war l:iroke out, but he managed to escape to the Burgos zone, and was made leader of the Phalangists by Franco after Hedilla's fall. Adroitly he has managed to neutralise the anti-Italian ten11 dencies in the Franco camp, and placed the Phalangists under the protection of the Duce. ProItalian elements are now trying to persuade Franco to concentrate on the military side of his duties, and to leave politics entirely to Suner. Chief Moderates at Burgos are Foreign Minister General Francisco Jordana, and Finance Minister Andres Amado. Recent rumours that they were going to resign have been denied. General Jordana served with distinction in the Cuban and Moroccan wars, and was Foreign Minister in one of Primo de Rivera's Cabinets. He was a friend of the late French empire-builder Marshal Liautey. The Republic deprived him of his post as Higher Commissioner in Spanish Morocco, and gaoled him, but the late French Leftist Paul Painleve secured his release. From then until the civil war broke out, Jordana lived in exile at Saint Raphael in France. He and Monarchist Amado are in favour of a rapprochement with London and Paris. They have their eyes on the City, hoping for loans. A third Moderate, Minister of Works, Alfonso Peno Boeos, has plans of reconstruction which will also need money. Minister of Justice Count de Rodezna, a famous historian, represents the former Carlist branch of the Monarchist party, which since the death of the last Carlist pretender has rallied to the cause of the Prince of Asturias. The Extremists at Burgos were jubilant over the prospect of victory. But the Moderates were elated by Anglo-French recognition. Recognition of the new Spanish government by the United States was given last April.-Condensed from News :(leview. @/ever @hi/dren 12 HERE are a few of the outstanding things which Dr. Lewis M. Terman, noted authority, says parents should look for in children to determine w11ether they are gifted with unusual intelligence: Marked desire for knowledge, retentive memory, rapid progress at school, great range of general information, early speech, asking intelligent questions, keen observation, wiusual vocabulary, expressive reading, good ear for music, quick with figures, liking to copy pictures, repairing things.-Your Life. PANORAMA

pages

10-12

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