Swiftly changing governmental hands, José Giral y Pereira has also been asked to form a government by President Azaña within hours of asking Diego Martínez y Barrio to do the same. Yesterday, July 19th, Martínez y Barrio was unable to make any progress in the formation of a government. The President therefore, decided that time was not something they had on their side as rebellion continues.One of Giral y Pereira's first orders as head of government was to issue arms to the general populace.
Seville, one of the most important cities in the south, is unsuccessfully defended by local police troops and a poorly armed workers' militia. While the heaviest weapons police possess are machine guns, the rebel General Queipo de Llano sends in artillery and heavily armed troops. Seville falls to the rebels.
