NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE strategic situation in Spain is hard to discover with any accuracy from the reports which the rival forces are issuing. There are practically no foreign journalists now in the country, and messages despatched from just outside the frontiers represent no more than the fruits of an intelligent winnowing of rumour. But it seems clear that while the Government forces have made headway atone point and the insurgents at another, the balance of success in the past week has been with the latter. Whether Badajoz has actually fallen is uncertain at the time of writing, but there is no doubt that at various points in the south General Franco is making headway. Evidence that he has at his disposal a number of aero- planes of German and Italian origin is increasingly strong, and his transport of troops by air from. Africa to Spain continues methodically. The employment of Moslem Moors to " defend Christianity " in Spain is an outrage in itself, but it is overshadowed by the brutalities which these savage warriors are everywhere committing. The next few days are 'likely to show decisive results at places like San Sebastian and Malaga; still held by the Govern- ment, and Saragossa and .0iriedo, held by the rebels. Madrid seems.tianquil, and in no immediate danger either from direct attack or. from shortage of supplies. But on the whole the discipline of Franco's.forees promises to out- weigh the inexperienced ardour of the Government supporters.
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