IN BARCELONA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 7

IN BARCELONA.

REIGN OF TERRORISM.

Ordeal of Englishwoman in

Heart of Fighting.

FRANTIC YOUTHS AMOK,

(Special.—By Air Mail.)

LONDON", August 11,

The following account of conditions and events in Barcelona during the earlier stages of the civil Avar is taken from the diary of an Englishwoman who, with her husband, was recently evacuated from Barcelona by a British warship

Monday. —No gas to-day and rumours of no water, so we have filled the bath as we cannot use it. Last niglit we went on to the roof—strictly prohibited —and saw nine churches burning. Very beautiful in the dark, but curiously sinister. This morning, as everything was quiet, all the youths were burning anything clerical they could lay hands on. We saw them gutting a priest's house and throwing everything, including the stairs and blinds, out of the window into the street, and having enormous bonfires. Obviously, for the moment at least, Communism has won. They have commandeered all private cars in garages, all petrol, and have broken into a lot of fooclsliops.

There are 110 trams running, but masses of private cars, all with C.N.T. (Confederation of Workers) and F.A.I. (Federation of Anarchists) painted all over them and filled with youths bristling with guns out of every window. One has to do the Communist salute every second yard to every passing car.

While we were at lunch an absolute battle started. Apparently two shots were fired from the roof of this house at the garage opposite,, which has a large petrol tank and is incessantly full of Communist cars filling up, and wounded two men. A mass of people arrived and started shooting at this house. The noise was fearful.

Our hostesses dashed out or the door 011 to the inside landing, which has lifts and stairs serving all the flats. B. (the writer's husband) and I, after about ten minutes in which we demonstrated our blue blood by sitting and chatting negligently over the dirty dishes, followed them. Handkerchief Signal. There are eight floors with six flats in each, all opening 011 to this central stair, with two lifts in it. The noise was really greater inside than the firing outside. There must have been fully 300 excited Latins of both sexes discussing tlje situation all up the stair. On every step children, dogs, and everyone yelling their views at each other.

Then a mass of Guardias Assaltos and Communists, armed to the teeth, began to pour in and go up to the roof in lifts to catch the assailant. They were up there for ages, but lie or they had gone bv them. We have all been told to hang white handkerchiefs from our windows. No one knows why, but we have all obediently done so.

Tuesday.—lt was so quiet this morning that I thought we would go to see if the English Consulate could help me to get away. We found them as nervous as cats, but utterly charming. Tliey advised me to go by car—quite hopeless, as there are none available— or by ship —equally hopeless, as there arc none.

No private houses have been touched nor the (banks, but I do not think there can be one church left in Barcelona with more than four bare walls, and every priest's house and religious college is gone completely, also the Italian shipping line office. Street Battlefield. What a battle there must have been in Plaza Catalina and the Rani bias! Broken glass everywhere and shell holes and bullet marks, the branches of trees cut through by bullets, four dead mules lying there blown out like balloons, and the smell of them!

Quite a lot of barricades down the Ramblas made of paving stones torn up. It must have been a shambles while it was going on, and there must be a lot of wounded, because they have had to take over a theatre and a movie for extra room. Poor souls, and they are all so young. In a way, though, it was curiously touching, that whenever we gave a Communist salute to a passing car, guns and swagger and all, the occupants, all young, saluted back and smiled from ear to ear. They are obviously so delighted with themselves, and there is no question they do fight like tigers for their ideals.

But what will happen later when there are no more churches to burn, and no advancing army to distract them ? I do not dare to look ahead. For how can the Government ever collect the arms back again, if they are not willing to give then* up ? Who ever heard of a youth from 10 to 25, who has just fought and won a war, being ready to give up his arms to order? DESTROYER BOMBED. U.S. Vessel Attacked by Unknown Aeroplane.

PROTEST TO SPAIN",

WASHINGTON, August 31

The bombing of the United States destroyer Kane from an. unidentified aeroplane 38 miles off the coast of Spain was reported yesterday. The news caused President Roosevelt to issue instructions to the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, to make . very strong representations, both to the Spanish Government and to the rebel leaders.

It is stated that bombs were dropped in the vicinity of the vessel, but accordin" to the State Department's report none hit her and there were no casualties. The Kane is on duty in Spanish waters evacuating Ameiicans.

The bombing happened at 4.10 p.m., several hours after the destroyer had left Gibraltar en route to Bilbao. A low-winded, three-motored monoplane, without "markings, attacked three times and in all six bombs were dropped. The Kane retaliated with nine discharges from her anti-aircraft gun and drove the monoplane away. The text of the Notes forwarded to Madrid and to General Franco has not been disclosed. The State Department indicates that it believes the attack was the result of mistaken identity although the Kane carried American flags both at her foremast head and on the deck awning.