NUNS’ HIDEOUS FATE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 13

NUNS’ HIDEOUS FATE

TERROR IN SPAIN

AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR

Unliarmed and believing herself lucky to be alive, Sister Paula, an Australian nun, has reached London after a thrilling escape from the Loreto Convent in Madrid, which is now converted into Red Barracks.

Sister Paula, a-former Melbournian, is a sister-in-law of Mr. Arthur Pereival, Commonwealth Surveyor-General, and a daughter of William Brahe, a member of the Jdurke and WiM expedition. Her rescue-followed ieprejc.ntations by her sister-indaw, May-H. Brahe, an -Australian song composer living in- London, to the British Foreign Office. The Foreign Offioe ia&t-FUcted the Consul in Madrid to take special measures to ensure the safety of the Loreto jriSi&r, a number of whom .were British snb] ccts. The Consul endeavoured to secure immunity for the convent from Red outrages, and arranged that when the situation’became dangerous the nuns should secretly evacuate the convent, assume dipt . clothes and live as ordinary indiVidtlftls in private families. Sister Paula took the name of “Mrs. Brahe.” Eventually the Consul secured transport for her and for other nuns who were British subjects. A special train took them to Valencia, where, with SCO other refugees, they boarded the warship. Devonshire and were carried to Marseilles. . . Sister Paula pays a glowing inhale to the- kindness of British officials and the ship’s crew. Describing the stark terror of the heel regime in Madrid, she said that other convents were less fortunate. Nuns who were murdered outright were considered lucky: others were subjected to indescribable mutilation and torture beforehand- . ~ T, , • A favourite pastime oi tlie Reds in their less bloodthirsty motnepts -was to compel nuns to dance unclothed before jeenng troops. Sister Paula is how proceeding to Loreto Convent, Batbfamham, Ireland, until her future is decided. She is hopeful of returning to AusMay Brahe, a resident of London for many years, is the composer of many well-known songs.