SCENE OF TERROR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 9

SCENE OF TERROR

CHILD REFUGEES IN CAMP NEWS OF FALL OF BILBAO THE FATE OF THE BASQUES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) LONDON, June 20. (Received June 21, at 5.5 p.m.) Terrible scenes occurred at North Stoneham when the Basque children in the refugee camp there heard the news that Bilbao had fallen. Complete terror broke out when the refugees heard a broadcast announcement from a van.

Five hundred children, apparently seized with mass hysteria, dashed from the camp. Some, it is stated, were armed with table knives. The police and ambulance men and others rounded up many on the roads and adjacent woods, but 150 were still missing at 3.40 a.m. Volunteers continued a search throughout the night. AUTHORITIES’ CARE The authorities, believing that there might be trouble if the news of the fall of Bilbao was withheld from the Basque children, broadcast a carefully-worded announcement in order to avoid shock: “ We much regret to announce that the enemy troops are now in Bilbao. It is perhaps a small comfort to know that by now many of your relatives and friends will be safe in Santander, and for those who remain in Bilbao there at least is not now much danger from bombs. We British people, caring for you, cannot express too strongly our sympathy. We ask you all to remain calm. You can rely on us to do our best for you on behalf of your parents.” The children stoned the van when it turned on music, and then they fled. Nearly all the children were rounded up in the morning, but some of the older boys are still missing. It is learned that the whole camp was crying before the news bulletin was finished. Some fainted, and others became hysterical and many started frantically packing their small belongings. The dominating thought of the children who broke camp was “to go home and help mother.” REGRET EXPRESSED A deputation of 50 Basque children, with a 14-year-old boy as spokesman, waited on Mr Henry Erinton, superintendent of the camp, saying: “We come to express the sorrow of the Basque children for all the trouble we caused last evening. We are grateful to the English. We recognise that they are our best friends and we shall never offend again,” A subsequent deputation proffered a letter addressed to the Prime Minister “ or whoever is most in command, to send a great big ship like those we saw when we came to England to protect our mothers, sisters, grandparents, the sick and the aged, so that all non-combatants can leave Bilbao without danger to their lives.”

The letter was signed by five girls and four boys, whose ages ranged from seven to 15. The children acted entirely on their own initiative.

UNIQUE RACE

THE BASQUES OF SPAIN PRIDE IN THEIR DESCENT The Basques as a unique racedevout, independent, simple and physically splendid—are described in a recent issue of the Literary Digest. Now the central figures, in the Spanish civil war, they are said to face the greatest sacrifices with philosophic calm. The only European race to boast of not being Aryan, the Basques regard the Aryans as the foreigners. The aim of the Basques has been to bar their tiny, green mountainland from the world’s wars, whether they be tribal, racial, religious, imperialistic or civil. To General Franco and his allies they have cried: “Leave us alone. Leave us alone, or we fight until we die,” the Digest states. While victory hung on courage, on strength of arm, keenness of eye and readiness to die if dying evened the score with slain invaders, they won. But against a war of machines raining mass death from the sky and spurting it from lumbering steel hulks below they find mere dying futile. ANCIENT CIVILISATION Who are these Basques? If the question were put to one of them he would probably answer with pride but without'vanity: “We are the Basques. Who are the rest of you? ” Never numbering more than 1.000,000, the race has lived astride the western Pyrenees since long before any of the surrounding races appeared in Europe. For their simple ideals the Basques have fought successfully until recently, when their President. Juan-Antonia Aguirre, made a radio appeal to the Powers for the rescue of women and children: “For the men of the Basque country we ask nothing. We can face the greatest sacrifices with calm. I ask the world if it will permit the extinction of a people whose first thoughts have always been for the defence of libertv and democracy.” It was no idle boast of freedom. To the end of the Spanish monarchy and so far through the Republic they have retained their autonomy Never in the monarchy’s strongest days did they acknowledge the King as more than a local “ lord,” and every heir to the throne had. at the age of 14. to swear a sacred oath to perpetuate the special rights of the Basques. NO PRINTED HISTORY Of printed history the 815.000 living members of the race have almost none. 18 words on one old manuscript, brief and vague mention in others. Of printed literature for an expressive race, they have surprisingly little. The Basques’ own assumptions, which they disdain to defend, would have them descended from the original cave-dwellers of their own mountains, and in their unique and incredible language there are indications that this may be true Written literature is regarded as something with which foreigners strive to beautify their imperfect lives. Basques have no need to write their literature