EYES RIGHT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 18

EYES RIGHT

Spanish Kehearsai. By Arnold Limn. Hutchinson. 285 pp. (10/6 net.) Through Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. The author spent a short time in Spain, generally in the company of Senor Aguilera, a charming man, a magnificently reckless motor-car driver, and a passionate upholder of Franco’s cause. But neither Aguilera’s personality nor stories were required to persuade Mr Arnold Lunn that the majority of Franco’s opponents were blackguardly scum. Fearing and loathing Communism before he came to Spain, and believing that nearly all the Spanish misery of the last 60 years was due to Communism, Sir Arnold derived from his brief visit and encounters fresh fuel to set his indignation blazing still higher. There is no arguing with such enthusiasts, whether they favour Left or Right, and both sides have such adherents. In all, the prejudices are naturally strengthened by the real heroism they hear of or see when they regard their own men in action. The true use of such books as this is to show the mentahty and credulity of those who, unbalanced, are determined to hate Fascism or Communism, and to translate political and social activity into the terms cf one or the other creed. “Spanish Rehearsal” is plainly •and pleasantly written, it has its value, though not perhaps the value hoped for by its writer, and its best parts are the least contentious, the account of meetings with other corresnondents and with Spaniards, and the recollections, too few, of days on snow and ice.