RATIONING IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1940, Page 4

RATIONING IN SPAIN

SHADOWED BY SWASTIKA. LONDON, July 27. In Madrid to-day the cigarette ration is 40 per week, but for men only. Women do not qualify for any ration. Bread is scarce, unleavened, and mostly bran, according to an Englishman recently returned to England from Spain. He described life in a Spain upon which the shadow of the swastika is falling. Coffee is undrinkable, string unobtainable. Petrol costs nearly 10/a gallon. Newspapers are pro-Nazi, and postage stamps are used as currency. He declared that the man in the street was indifferent to the antiBritish political propaganda instigated by Serrano Suner, secretary to the “Falange” and brother-in-law to General Franco. The poster “Gibraltar is Ours,” which adorns almost every public building, makes the average Spaniard shrug his shoulders. He has scant respect for the Italians and smiles contemptuously when told that they “won the revolution for him.” He saw the Italians in action. On the other hand he respects, without liking, and with some fear, the Germans. And he appreciates the aims for which Britain is fighting. I More than one Spaniard has said! when.he was sure official eats were' not listening:' “Britain is our last; hope.” !