Madrid, Mar. 5.
Premier Juan Negrin of Republican Spain decided today to merge the central and southern armies and per-anally to take over the command of all the armies through the medium of the General Staff.' The decision is considered of great' importance since Senor Negrin becomes the real Chief of Operations, with priority over General Jose Miaja, the present Generalissimo.
The decision is a further proof of the policy of resistance to the very end, which has always been followed by the Premier. Only recently, the Premier declared to members of the Council of Ministers that he intended to strengthen the situation of the army, and that he would remain in Alicante province for this reason.
Furthermore, Senor Negrin has decided to free from military service li men aged 44 and 45 years of age, ho will be used for work in the fields. Promotions have been given to all officers who distinguished themselves during the recent fighting in Catalonia and who immediately returned to the Central zone.—Havas. that they may result e change in the attitude Eastern and South-ud the adoption of a policy of greater independence a: German influence, the message adds The economic demands which Gers pressing in the Danube re col dered to have suffered indirect sabot: ge by Italy, according to he message. Thus do observers seek to explain Col. Beck's warm attitude towards Count Ciano, Italian Ministe: of Foreign Affairs, coinciding with anti-German demonstrations throughout Poland.
It is affirmed that Dr, Gafencu a Col. Beck will discuss the Danubia: Sroblem, and in addition to offering special transit facilities for Polish goods to the Black Sea and Danub: harbours, it is stated, Rumania will probably grant Poland the free zone of Galatz to compensate for Danvig and Gdynia, in the everton difevlties over the Polish corridor.
Finally, it is thought that Senator Beck may attempt to effect an improvement of relations between Hungary and Rumania.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.