Strategy

In Madrid, the Marquis de Estella, better known as General Primo de Rivera, President of the Spanish Military Directory, sat at his desk. A large number of people visited him, came away with faces more anxiously clouded than they were when to him they went. Not a word that could be relied upon reached the public which, because of the number of his visitors, was confirmed in its conviction that Senor de Rivera was not merely twiddling his thumbs. Primo, "robust, determined, democratic by nature, a man slightly above medium height, with a halo of dark hair engulfing a shiny, bald pate and an upper lip bristling with mustachios," this man, the so-called Dictator of Spain, dressed in a uniform of olive green, was silent. "No doubt," said the man-in-the-street, "all this commotion has to do with the French war in Morocco." (See FRANCE.)

Indeed, a question was on many tongues: What does Spain intend to do ? The Spanish wanted to know, so did the French, the English, the Italians. The answer was given by the news.

Coup d'Etat. The basic reason of General Rivera's coup d'etat in 1923 (TIME, Sept. 24, 1923) was imbedded in the conviction that Spanish liberty was "merely the liberty to go ill-governed." The Government of Spain was corrupt, the Spanish War in Morocco, which had dragged on for ten years, was being criminally conducted. Thus, it came about that, from the outset of his rule, General de Rivera had one foot in Spain, one foot in Morocco.

Spanish Foot. It was the declared intention of the General to revert as soon as possible to constitutional government ; but, while the Moroccan War hung on, it was impossible to shift responsibility without admitting a defeat which was not borne out by the facts. The Military Directory, despite heavy expenditure entailed by the war, corrected many abuses, balanced the budget by exercising strict economy. This, however, was a mixed blessing, because it reacted unfavorably on trade. But the principal weakness of the Directory was, and still is, that it has never been able to indict a single former minister among those who were so categorically charged with malfeasance at the time of the coup d'etat.

The strength of the Directory, on the other hand, rests upon its recognition--and perhaps involuntary support--by King Alfonso. The King is tremendously popular in Spain with most of the people, who tolerate the Directory for that reason. The fact is borne out by the Liberal-Conservative ex-Premier, Senor Sanchez Guerra, in a recent speech: "The . . . Directory ... is upheld solely by the confidence of the Crown," which "without consulting the people, has transformed Spain from a constitutional into an absolute monarchy." In effect, this was criticism of the Directory and the King; but, in view of the support which the King receives from the people, it was reduced as effective criticism to a mere empty commentary.

Others have criticized. Indeed, Admiral de Magaz, Vice President of the Directory, said earlier in the year: "... None of us ignores the effect produced abroad by the prolonged continuation in office of the Military Directory." Professor de Unamuno and Senor Vicente Blasco Ibanez lost more sympathy for Spain than they gained by carrying on despicable propaganda. The fact remains that the Directory is firmly in its saddle and there is no likelihood of its being unhorsed. It has kept a firm hand on the reins; and its riding, if not superb, has at least been good (balanced budget, improved financial condition, order at home). The Spanish Nation must wait until the Directory dismounts; and, on the whole, seems content to do so. Even the Radicals have said: "Better the Directory than a Romanones Ministry." * Moroccan Foot. In the pristine pride of its advent to power, the Directory was firmly convinced that it could batter the turbulent Riffs into submission. Consequently, it handled the statesmen and politicians in cavalier fashion, refusing haughtily all offers of help. "We shall meet again in Morocco," was the grim retort of ex-Premier Count Romanones, the Liberal leader. Subsequent events thoroughly disillusioned General Rivera and his colleagues. The Riffs proved stronger than was supposed; but General Rivera is at least an able soldier and his strategy was masterful. For months, he worked out a plan; and then the world was startled by the announcement that the Spanish forces in Morocco had retired to the Anjera line. This line -- a chain of trenches and fortified positions-- had behind it all the important and most of the small zocos (markets). Along the coast, from Tetuan to Melilla, warships were posted; and, at the last place, the Spanish held another zone extending almost to the limit of Spanish Morocco near the Algerian frontier. A blockade had been declared.

Some months before, this Abd-el-Krim, leader of the Riffs and once a German agent, had conducted numerous pillaging expeditions in the Wergha Valley in French Morocco, which is the south side of the Spanish zone. The French countered by occupying the valley in force. The Spanish blockade drove the Riffs to depend more and more for supplies on their agents in French Morocco. This move was accompanied by inciting other Moroccan tribes to revolt against the French. France took action to protect the natives. Abd-el-Krim replied by declaring that the occupation by French troops of the upper Wergha Valley, which was under his control, constituted an unfriendly act, declared war. The French reply was given by Premier Painleve in the Chamber of Deputies last week:

"So long as the Tricolor keeps its color, it will protect from violence and exaction peoples it has promised to protect."

War between the Riffs and France altered the situation. Conversation was begun in Madrid between the French and Spanish Governments, and, according to diplomatic advices, a combined attack by France and Spain is to be made with the object of defeating decisively Abd-el-Krim. More important, both countries pledged themselves not to make a separate peace.

The submission of Krim, which seemed assured, will mean a large plume in the helmet of General Primo Rivera, and should alone compensate the Nation for whatever loss of liberty it has suffered. It is expected, when the happy event comes to pass, that the King will insist upon caling the Cortes (Parliament) and dictatorship will give way to constitutionalism.

* Count Romanones, to combat Radicalism, suspended (1921) the constitutional guarantees (a habeas corpus measure).