'Cheeky' choice of name

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 26

'Cheeky' choice of name

(.vz. Press .Association) AUCKLAND. April 14. A member of the original < International Brigade, which i fought in the Spanish Civil j War, today declared it to be ; an insult that men planning; ; Ito fight alongside the South , Vietnamese should intend calling themselves by the i L same name. t ’ Mr T. Spiller, now known! ■ 1 to New Zealanders as presit dent of the Public Passenger - Transport Union, was one of. 1 the few New Zealand-bom. members of the International: ' Brigade. He fought for the Spanish Republican Govern•jment from 1936 to 1938. ' He is angry that a former ' United States marine, Mr G. I ’ C. Titman. has announced his ‘ intention to organise a band . of New Zealanders to join an international brigade of; r like-minded people to fight: r alongside the South Vietnam-, » ese. .■ “The members of the Inter- • national Brigade fought ’’ Fascism in Spain,” Mr Spiller said. “What a cheek for 5 these people to use the same < name for a group who are ■’ going to fight for fascism in ; South-East Asia. „ “Whatever they do it is a g slight on the men who formed the International Bri-j n gade, to have that proud ! hi name used to prop up the r! South Vietnamese Government.”