NEWS OF THE WEEK
REPORTS from Spain continue to be confused and chaotic, but it is possible to see roughly the distri- bution of forces. The Army is with the rebels ; the Navy and Civil Guard loyal ; the Air Force divided. The Government holds the East Coast, and in the South retains Malaga. In the North, the rebels are strong, especially in reactionary Navarre, but have had to surrender San Sebastian. - During the last week the Government's greatest success has been in opening communications between Madrid and the port of Valencia, essential to its food supplies, and in stemming the rebels' advance in the mountains north _ of Madrid. At the moment, the issue of the war hangs upon the success of the Government's attack upon the rebel strongholc& in Saragossa, Seville, Cordoba, and in the mountains between Madrid and their headquarters at Burgos. The rebels have no striking successes to show, but they are still in complete control of Morocco, on which they can draw for troops, if they can transport them across the Straits. General Franco is at Tetuan in Morocco, but reported to be moving to Seville, where General Queipo de Llama is being bitterly attacked. General Mola is at Burgos. The war threatens to become one cf attrition, and even a decisive victory will not put an end to the terrible suffering for which General Franco must be held responsible ; for the civil war will be continued in the terror which is likely to follow it, whatever its issue.
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