DEATH ORDER

Evening Star, Issue 22895, 1 March 1938, Page 11

DEATH ORDER

SCOTSMEN IN SPAIN SEVEN SAVED BY PASSPORTS Ex-private David Robb, of Glasgow, 22-year-old “ veteran ” of the Spanish war. is back in London lia.un.t6Q by the memory of seeing 22 fellow Scotsmen being taken away to be machinegunned by Moors, writes Noel Monks. He told me his story recently. _ His voice trembled as he spoke. This is bis three-part story. ‘Passport to Life is the title 1 should give it. Part One.—The scene is the Teruel front; the time Christmas Eve. Men of the International Brigade, about to counter-attack, are signing forms that make them Spanish citizens. A company of 29 young Scots are given forms. Seven refuse to sign. Spanish officers shrug their shoulders. It is not important—to them. The battle begins. It is snowing. Somehow the company of Scots have been cut off from the remainder of the brigade. Several of them are wounded. ~ „ ~ Suddenly Private David Robb calls out: “Look out, mates, we’re surrounded. In the snow the company of Scots have blundered into a whole brigade of Moors. The Scots surrender. TAKEN PRISONER. Part Two.—Behind Franco’s lines; it is Christmas Day. The 29 Scots are in prison. The seven who are still British are partitioned' off from their comrades. For their Christmas dinner all are given a chunk of dry bread and a pitcher of water. The 29 Scots are taken out into the prison courtyard. The seven who refused to sign away their nationality are stood slightly aside. An army truck pulls up. The 22 Scots who became Spaniards are bundled into it. Four Moors' with two machine guns get in with them. The Scots know then that they are going on their last journey. One of them, a boy of 17, from Edinburgh, screams out “They’re going to shoot us. Stop them. Stop them.” Braver spirits among the doomed 22 call out • Goodbye.” Half a dozen begin singing ‘ Auld Lang Syne,’ Then there is a distant rattle of machine guns. The same truck returns —empty. The seven British Scots climb into it. It takes a different turning outside the prison. VOLUNTEER’S REGRETS. Part Three.—London. Ex-private David Robb speaking: “My poor mates. You see, we refused to give up our passports. My mates who became Spanish citizens handed in theirs and were given Spanish identification cards. “We seven were taken to Salamanca. We were treated very well. Then we were brought to Hendaye and given our tickets to Paris. “ I wouldn’t sign away rjiy nationality for anything. That’s why I’m alive to-day. I have had enough of war—for ever. I was a fool. So is every foreigner who fights in Spain—on either side.”