REFUGE CAMPS IN SPAIN

Southland Times, Issue 25502, 24 October 1944, Page 5

REFUGE CAMPS IN SPAIN

GERMANS CUT OFF IN FRANCE (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 23 The Spanish Government is reported to have prepared refuge camps in Spain for German troops cut off in south-eastern France. L’Humanite, the Paris Communist newspaper, says that many Germans are attempting to escape from the French Maquis and cross the French border into Spain. Simultaneously, Paris Left Wing newspapers report the growing restlessness of the Spanish population, particularly in northern Spain. About 20,000 Spanish Republicans and Maquis have gathered around Perida (Catalonia) and more have crossed the Spanish border from France. Many of these men are Spaniards who fought with the French Maquis against the Germans in south-western France. Twenty Spanish divisions are massed along the French-Spanish frontier, including the 42nd Division which arrived at Catalonia to aid in the “pacification” of the province. Peasants in this and other districts are reported to be refusing to deliver their crops to General Franco’s Government. DEMAND TO DE GAULLE

L’Humanite states that General Franco has demanded that General Charles de Gaulle disarm Spanish Republican members of the French Forces of the Interior. General Franco threatened that if the French authorities do not dp it he would send Spanish troops across the border to disarm them. General de Gaulle has refused to consider the demand.

The Paris newspaper, Le Populaire, reports that heavy fines are being imposed in Andorra, Aragon, Catalonia and Estremadura on peasants who are helping the Spanish Maquis with food. Incidents reported by various correspondents of the Paris Left Wing newspapers include: At Granada the police chief, alleged to have used terror tactics against workers, has been shot. Spanish guerrillas recently attacked the barracks at Vich Catalonia and killed a number of guards and liberated political prisoners. Guerrillas at Seville set fire to a factory working for Hitler. iAt Gerona the Republicans ambushed a truck convoy and wiped out a detachment of guards.