Duel in the Mud

In the devastated suburbs of Barcelona, where floods had churned a path of death and debris, a contest for political popularity was fought last week. The loser: handsome Prince Juan Carlos, son of Pretender Don Juan (TIME cover, June 22), either of whom may some day rule Spain. The winner: wily Dictator Francisco Franco, who showed off a few of the qualities that have kept him in power for 25 years.

First on the scene was Juan Carlos. The prince stepped off the plane from Lisbon with an inappropriately gay smile and wearing impeccably cut sports clothes. Accompanied by his wife, Greek Princess Sophie, he set out for an inspection trip surrounded by foppishly elegant Catalan aristocrats. They were received unenthusiastically by small crowds of grieving townsfolk. Shouted a group of grimy men in Tarrasa: "Less talk and more pick and shovel."

There had, in fact, been picks and shovels, but they had been supplied by the Franco regime. Moving with a speed unprecedented in Spain, El Caudillo's efficient new Vice Premier, Captain General Agustin Mufioz Grandes, had been in Barcelona within twelve hours after the flood, quickly arranged for rescue and relief operations. Workers were promised 90% of their base pay until their destroyed plants were reopened. Factory owners received $16 million in easy credit. Farmers got pledges of machinery and fertilizer to revive about 2,000 ravaged acres of land. Thus, when Franco arrived at the Barcelona cathedral to attend funeral services for victims of the disaster, he was met by warm applause even though Catalonia has long been a hotbed of opposition to his rule. Juan Carlos, by contrast, was greeted by only scattered hand clapping and even a few catcalls. At first Franco ignored Juan Carlos, on the way out gave him a brief nod. Later, as Franco toured the muddy, wreckage-strewn towns near Barcelona, the crowds noticed tears in his eyes. Said he at one stop: "In the spring I will return to make sure that the memory of the Dantesque night that fell on this town has been erased.''

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