The tragic news that negotiations between the Spanish Republicans and the Nationalists for the surrender of the former have broken down means that Spain which has been drenched with blood for nearly three years is to continue the civil war. General Franco has issued an unconditional ultimatum, after negotiation: had broken down. demanding the immediate surrender under a threat of a rigi anda offensive. Indeed the latest reports to hand suge hat in fact fighting has commenced, and that the Nationalists are confident of the early capture of the city. There s little that can be said for the Republican leaders who refuse to put an early end te these hostilities at price. It does not a t their own lives r they would hi: from the cou re in any particular e plenty of time to Those unfortunate saple not so well pli obliged to continue a str; however, are bein; lo which can only one way,—victory for General Franso ind his forces at the further expenditure of life, and suffering which is as futile as it is unneces If there were any human probability of the Republican cause ever gaining he day something might be said for the decision not to accede to General Franco's de. trender. but the situa y such probability. tional troops freed ce the reduction of Catalonia has been able o concentrate greater strength against. the lican lines de g that p o Spain which is His ships can blockade the coast vent supplies reaching the leade forlorn hope, and either al fighting, or by the slow process o n the Republicans seem condemned o inevitable, and final defeat. In the circum tances there can be nothing but the greates t the Republican leaders fail to aprealities of the situation, and in ination to fight it out to the g more ry upon a people zh of it, F. A. Cup Finalists lverhempton Wandere: will probably go to Wembley on Apzil 29 as favourites to win the F.A. Cup from the other finalists, Portsmouth. Since their revival last November, the Wolves have had a wonderful record, both in League and in the Cup. In the League the:
re in second position. only Everton holding a by no mean: secure lead over them. And they have scored more goals than riy other of the teams which entered. The Wolves have met some of the finest teams in the country on the to the final, with the rest] Bradford by r Leicester by to one; victory over Everton two goals to and in the semi-final, assisted somewhat by the injury to Grimsby's goalkeeper, victory over Grimsby by five goals to nil. Up to the semifinal, it is true.
t the Wolves had the luck of the draw, playing all their ties on their home ground. But in the League they have proved that they just as formidable away as the: are at home, and unless the strain of a We: blay occasion unexpectedly them, they should be as good there as an; mouth have had a hard time getting so far in the competition, and this should have improved their play. They are near the bottom of the League table. but as experience has shown, this does not count for much in the Cup.
Since January 7 Portsmouth have met and defeated Lincoln by goals to nil; West Bromwich by ithe capital
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.