[12] “Modern Spain,” p. 563.
[13] It was stated as a fact that nineteen men in one regiment had been shot for refusing to go into action, and an Ultramontane of my acquaintance, who never reads anything but the newspapers of his own party and never travels ten miles from his own village, solemnly assured me that the tale was true!
[14] I was told at the time that many people in Madrid thought the bomb was thrown on behalf of the Pretender.
[15] The names of the monastery and of all the people concerned were given me, but I refrain for obvious reasons from publishing them.
[16] It is said that the Association of Social Defence promises its working men members a retaining fee of 3 pesetas a day should political exigencies compel them to leave their work at any time, the average labourer’s wages all over the country being from 1.50 to 2 pesetas. It has not been possible to obtain trustworthy information, either as to terms of membership or the actual numbers who have joined the league during the last twelve months, but there is evidence that it has no influence among the working classes generally.
[17] I have been told by an English friend that a Spanish acquaintance of his has, to his knowledge, lately made a substantial sum by selling arms to the Religious Orders.
[18] Most of them had been re-opened after Moret took office in October, 1909, as already mentioned.
[19] This story evidently relates to the early days of the Cuban war.
[20] This is not the only statement of the kind that I have heard.
[21] “Modern Spain,” p. 531.