PITIFUL SCENES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 7

PITIFUL SCENES.

PLIGHT OF REFUGEES. Frontier Camps A Spectacle Of Misery. WOMEN AND CHILDREN SUFFER United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 n.m.) LONDON, February 9. Scenes at the frontier refugee camps present a spectacle of misery. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are spread over the huge sandune area behind barbed-v.-ire, which is patrolled by Scngalese and Mobile Guards. . Here and tliere children arc hobbling on .improvised crutches. Old men and many' wounded- are huddled about camp tires in bitter chill, while others scour the countryside in search of firewood. It is like a scene from the "Inferno," babies being rocked in the arms of their weary mothers and crying for food, badly wounded groaning and appealing for doctors, and distraught women searching for missing jusbands and children. k The beginning of the end of the Catalan campaign came with dramatic suddenness last night, says the "Daily Mail" special correspondent at Boitrgniadamc. At 10 p.m. there appeared on tho frontier out of the darkness a column of infantry, marching four abreast. Behind them, as far. as the eye could see, stretched an unending line of troops. Every available French soldier was hurriedly summoned . from barracks and cafes. Troops March In. An officer leading the column explained that two divisions of the Catalan army were entering lYancc, and, 3.3 minutes later 10,000 soldiers, all marching in perfect formation, had crossed the frontier. They were immediately disarmed, and great piles of rifles and revolvers rapidly rose oii each side of the road.

Afterward the- Spaniards were conducted to fields and open spaces around Bourgmadame, where, within a few minutes they were lighting iircs, around which they huddled for warmth in the icy night air. Nothing now stands between the rebel armies and the frontier save a few rearguards, and within a few hours General Franco's troops arc expected to make the first contact with Prance on the Catalan border, from which they will gradually squeeze the Republicans out of the remaining Catalan territory down to the sea. Band Plays on Frontier Roaa. Forty thousand •Government troops crossed into France during the day at Cerbere, Bourgmadame and Lcpcrthus. The latter town was captured without opposition a few minutes after the last Loyalists ran across the international road, which the French requested the rebels not to cross. The insurgents thereupon marched up and down the Spanish side of the road, their band playing. • Desperate fighting had continued till nightfall, the insurgents pushing on to Puigccrda. Thousands in France watched the "retreating Government troops being heavily shelled. A Valencia message says 23 Italian bombers were- active on the LevaMte coast all day.' One hundred bombs were dropped on" the outskirts of Valencia and 80 on the ' port. The Bntisll steamers Stanforth and Stanbrook were seriously damaged. 1 One hundred bombs on Cartagena did enormous damage. The French Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, Viscount Louis de Chappcdelaine, ordered the recommissionmg of four passenger steamers for use as hospital ships'for Spanish refugees, wo will be dispatched from Port Vcubes and two from Marseilles, to which wounded will be taken by train. .DIPLOMATIC CHAOS. Italy And Germany Resent Britain's Actions. ; PRESS OUTBURSTS. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LOXDOX. February 0. The bewilderment caused jn foreign circles by the statement of tne "Diplomaticlnformation" yesterday to- reKevcd by the Italian Press interpretations, whfch unanimously emphasise the emark calling for fresh military effort by Italy. This is Wrf*,"*: further prick of the spur to Idp the nation to hold the pace with II Duce s demand?.. Clearly the attention General Franco is payin* to British and French suggesUoKr a-speedy winding up of he war is not relished by Italy. H.M.S. Devonshire's activities are greeted with ill-concealed amazement and dismay. The "Daily Telegraph" Berlin correspondent -enj-s H.JI.S. Devonshire's role at Minorca has increased the fury ot the Press in Germany. It is fully believed that a Franco victory will mean the complete removal of Britain and France from diplomatic activity ill Spain until the influence of Italy: and Germany is established.

Obviously inspired, evening papers declare that Minorca is under the control of British: - troops, and it is suggested that the Devonshire's relugees "comprise British agents whose work is completed." The "Lokalauzcigec" says Britain has embarked oil an act of intervention of very special importance, and the "Hamburger Fremdeiiblatt" sees • the firstfruits of Mr. Roosevelt's assurances to democracies. LABOURERS NEEDED. Longer Hours And Harder Work In Germany. HINT IN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Received 11 a.m.) BERLlN,.February; 9. Germany's need for more labour for industry was dealt with in an official report in which there was a hint of longer hours and harder work than last vear. New sources included Iop,CU! combed from the unemployed and 070,000- mobilised from domestic employees and pensioners. ' De«T)ite this, it is estimated that there will be a deficiency of 1,000,000 workers i„ 1039, on account of which rationlalUation and -a more .intense use ot 'existin" labour will be necessitated.