the volunteer, december 1975

8/14/2019 The Volunteer, December 1975

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The VolunteerPublished As A Public Service By The

VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE

799 Broadway, N Y. C. 10003 DECEMBER, 1975

Francos last daysEditor's Note: This article was written and went to press shortly before Franco's death.

By ROBERT G. COLODNY

The corpse of GeneralissimoFranco is being kept pulsatingby an array of machines and aphalanx of doctors. For someweeks now, workmen have beenquarrying in the granite bowelsof the Valley of the Fallen pre-paring for the entombment. Themost recent victims of theRegime, butchered by the ordersof Franco's would-be successorshave been buried, but not

without a response from Europe

Continued on page 11

Camacho and 2 freedEarly on a Sunday morning, November 30, shortly after midnight, MarcelinoCamacho Abat, 57-year-old organizer of Spanish Workers' Commissions,was freed from Carabanchel prison, just outside Madrid. Two other membersof the "Carabanchel Ten", Nicolas Sartorius Alvarez, a 37-year-old journalistand Juan Marcos Muniz Zapico, a 37-year-old metallurgist, were released atthe same time.

They were freed under a decree signed by Juan Carlos on November 25,the so-called amnesty decree granting a limited pardon to political andcommon-law prisoners.

Later in the morning the three men appeared at a news conference inMadrid where they demanded full amnesty for all political prisoners anddeclared they would help promote a "nonviolent" campaign in the streets, inthe factories, and in the schools, to achieve that end. In reply to questions,they said that it is expected that only a fraction of the 260 political prisonersbelieved to be held in Carabanchel would be freed and that only a fewhundred of the estimated thousands imprisoned throughout Spain, would bereleased.

Commenting on these developments, Steve Nelson, National Commanderof the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, declared that Camacho'srelease" while welcomed as a victory for the Spanish people and for thedemocratic forces of the world, falls far short of the demands put forward by

the anti-fascist opposition, to free all political prisoners now servingsentences or awaiting trial.

He recalled that when the news of the arrest of Camacho and thoseimprisoned with him became known, it was the ever-growing pressure of theanti-Franco opposition within Spain and among the democratic


As we go to press further

confirmation of the

repression in Spain is the

arrest of Marcelino

Camacho and Fr.

Francisco Garcia Salve,

two of the Carabanchel

10, released on an

amnesty only the week

before by King Juan

Carlos de Borbon.


2/12


3/12

1,200 attend Del Vayo memorial

A meeting in memory of JulioAlvarez del Vayo, prime minister ofSpain during the Civil War1936~39, was celebrated at the

Community Church in New YorkCity on the evening of November19th, 1975.

Alvarez del Vayo died, an exile inGeneva, at the age of 84 on May 2of this year.

The occasion also served as aprotest against the United States'foreign policy in support of thefascist regime now headed by JuanCarlos who had been appointedmonarch of Spain by his predecessorGeneralissimo Francisco Franco.

An audience of 1,200 heard aimpressive and moving account ofdel Vayo's life, socialist ideals anddevotion to his homeland by his sonDiego del Vayo.

Other speakers were Steve Nelsonfor the VALB, Erich Schmidt of theUnited States Committee forSpanish Democracy, Barbara W.Tuchman, historian; Ring LardnerJr., author; and a young Spaniard,Alexandro Gomez, recently releasedfrom the Carabanchel prison.

Arthur. Miller, unable to attendbecause of illness, addressed theaudience by tape.

Ossie Davis was chairman. Hispungent and accurately directedcomments added to the enthusiasticspirit of the meeting.

Messages in tribute to Alvarez delVayo and expressing hopes for ademocratic Spain were receivedfrom President Echevarria ofMexico and I. F. Stone. A poem to

the spirit of del Vayo, who wasknown as the "eternal optimist," wassent by author Kaye Boyle.

John T. Bernard, ex-congressmanfrom Minnesota, the only voice inCongress raised against UnitedStates' arms embargo to RepublicanSpain at the outset of the Civil War,wrote an especially moving tribute.

Senators Adlai Stevenson III,Illinois; Dick Clark, Iowa; andJames Aboueszk, South Dakota, sentgreetings to the meeting, as did

Congresswoman Bella Abzug.Although diversity of opinion wasapparent among the speakers, therewas unanimity on two aspects of theSpanish question; that the JuanCarlos regime was created tocontinue the ultra right policies of

Franco and was incapable ofdemocratic evolution, and that theUnited States must not interfere onthe side of fascism against the

democratic desires of the Spanishpeople.By strange coincidence, the death

of Generalissimo Francisco Francooccurred on the same night as theMemorial to del Vayo.

TERROR REIGNS IN SPAINBy AL PRAGO

In March, 1941, the first of two articles I wrote analyzing the repression inSpain was printed in The VOLUNTEER.

It is mind-boggling that now, 34 years later, I am writing about that samehorror. For more than three decades the Spanish people have suffered fascistoppression, the severity of which has varied from time to time. Now, as theFranco regime is tottering, shaken by the militant actions of a newgeneration, there has been a rapid escalation in ruthless, legalized terror.

Spain understands that this newest wave of repression is the reaction of aregime which fears that its rule may soon come to an end. It began whileFranco was ill but lucid and continues (after his death) with Juan Carlos asthe nominal head of state.

In July, 1975 Amnesty International sent a mission to Spain whichreported on the tortures of hundreds of political prisoners. The missionconcentrated its study on the consequences of the "state of exception~'clamped on the Basque region in April and extended to all of Spain later.Their report (published in September) notes that torture has been and is,prevalent all over Spain since Franco's victory in 1939.

Beatings, whippings and sexual assaults are ancient and standard. New arethe uses of refined psychological techniques, electric gadgets, cigaretteburns, razor blade cuts in the tongue, drugs, butane-gas blowlamps andother ingenious devices that are the by-products of modern technology andfascist viciousness.

Amnesty provides evidence that women have been systematicallyhumiliated, stripped naked, their pubic hair shaved, their breasts burned.Male and female victims have been subjected to mock executions, beatingswith electric cables and mutilation of sexual organs, among other practices.

In October, according to recent reports, the police threw a young womanand a young engineers, who had been severely tortured, out of the windowof the Bilbao police headquarters. Both died. The police apparently havebeen given carte. blanche to commit any excess they want.

Vigilante groups are emerging from the cracks and crevices of the moribundregime, notably the Guerrilleros del Cristo Rey which "operate secretly, inleague with the police, and they are violent." Miguel Esquerra (a colonel inHitler's Waffen SS) is the head of a group called the "Parallel Police." Itsmembers are busy physically attacking members of the oppos-



4/12

Bay Area campaign for SpainOver 500 people gathered before St

Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco onOctober 11 to protest the executionof five Spaniards by the Franco

regime. Mon-signor Flynn of theCommission of Human Rights of theSan Francisco Archdiocese, calledfor an end to the reign of terror un-leashed by Franco against the Basquepeople and an end to the executions.

Then, banners unfurled, placardsheld on high and to the ac-companiment of an inspired four-piece band thumping out Ay! Ma-nuela!, the procession marched fourmiles along some of the busieststreets of the city passing out some

ten thousand leaflets to 3 people whofor the most part, kept them to read.

The slogans' "NO GUNS FOREXECUTIONERS" and "VETOTHE MADRID PACT, VETOFRANCO," picked up from theleaflets, echoed along Van Ness andUnion Streets to a crescendo beforethe Spanish Consulate on Baker.

Dr. Manuel of the Democraticcampaign Junta, Ms. Marisi,representing the Spanishacademicians in the USA, and Frieda

Wolff of the USCDS spoke from thebalcony of the Consulate to thecrowd which by now closed off thestreet to vehicular traffic.

Expressions of support from SenatorsTunney and Stevenson, CongressmenBurton and Dellums, Senatorialcandidate Tom Hayden and others,were greeted with warm applause.

An effigy of Franco was set afire atthe end (bringing out the Hook andLadder and other equipment) tochants of "Democracia Si, FrancoNo." All major TV channels carriedthe story on both evening and latenews broadcasts - NBC, CBS andABC. In all cases our message came

through loud and clear.The demonstration was organized

by the SPANISH DEMOCRATICASSOCIATION OF NORTHERNCALIFORNIA and the U.S.COMMITTEE FOR ADEMOCRATIC SPAIN. It wassponsored by VALB and 14 otherorganizations.

SAN FRANCISCO

Three hundred and fifty students,members of the faculty and"towners" on October 29th jammed

Wellman Hall at the Davis Campusof the University of California for ashowing of DREAMS ANDNIGHTMARES sponsored by theSpanish Students Association andUSCDS. In spite of an unfavorable"preview" in the school paper it wasa standing-room-only crowd thatcheered the film and stayed for hoursafterwards asking questions andexchanging opinions withrepresentatives of the Spanish

Student Association and Milt Wolff,who appeared forVALB.

Frieda Wolff, as always, spokemovingly of the situation in Spainand the work of USCDS. Over onehundred signatures were obtained onthe petition calling for nullificationof the Madrid Pact. Many morepetitions and leaflets were taken bysome of the students who committedthemselves to further work for ademocratic Spain.

San Francisco demonstrates against Franco terror. Over 500 pickets before the Spanish Government Commercial Office in

the center of the city, created such crowds of on-lookers that traffic in the vicinity was interrupted.


5/12

DMU for amnestyThe Spanish armed forces are no

longer the monolithic mainstay forthe Franco regime they constitutedonly a few years ago. They too have

been affected by the pervasiveclimate of anti-Francoism in Spain.There now exists an anti-Francomovement in the armed forcesknown as the Democratic MilitaryUnion.

This development was revealed inrecent months following recurrentreports of arrests of military officersfor "sedition". The regime has so faradmitted the arrests of twelve,ranking from major down.Opposition sources say at least 60

have been arrested to date. Severalhundred officers are underinvestigation for their possibledisloyalty to Franco and hisgovernment.

The fullest account of the D.M.U.was given in Paris recently by an AirForce Captain Jose IgnacioDominuez, for whose arrest awarrant had been issued whilestationed. at a NATO air base inTurkey.

"The DMU", Capt. Dominguez told

the news conference "only takes inprofessional military officers,captains and majors for the most part.It is an autonomous movement withno direct political affiliations. Wehave, however, established contactswith the Democratic Council ofSpain and the DemocraticConvergence Platform group. Wefavor coordinated, united action by acommon organization of theopposition forces."

The DMU, he stated, has a programwith two main points, national andprofessional. The first point concernsthe reestablishment of democraticrights in Spain which, he stressed,include labor rights.

The DMU seeks a general politicalamnesty, democratic elections, and anumber of socio-economic reforms

"aimed at a more just distribution ofwealth," as well as convocation of aSpanish Constitutional Assembly andrespect for Spain's independence,

sovereignty and territorial integrity.The second point of the DMUprogram, he said, is the "profes-sional" one and concerns reorgan-ization of the Spanish armed forces,including promulgation of a militarylaw code defining the rights andduties of the armed forces, and oftheir officers, noncommissionedofficers and enlisted men.

He said Spain's military officersbitterly resent being used to maintaina minority in power".

The DMU, largely liberal andmonarchist in political complexion,is thought to include more than 1,000active members. These are mainlycaptains and majors, as was the casewith the Portuguese AFM.

West European journalists esti-mated recently that about one quarterof the entire Spanish officer corps iseither in the DMU or hassympathetic contact with it.

Many officers beyond the DMU,are incensed at the involvement of

the armed forces in the September 27execution of five young anti-fascistsby the Franco regime. As one youngofficer complained to a reporter ofLe Monde, the Paris daily. "they aretrying to involve the Army in theirown dirty business".

As regards Juan Carlos, the officersaid: .... it is a question for the peopleto decide. We think that underpresent conditions he is an integralpart of the Francoist regime. In other

words, we cannot support him solong as he has not beendemocratically elected."

Cardinal calls for

total democracy

MADRID, Nov. 11 Cardinal

Vicente Enrique y Tarancon, Spain'sleading prelate, demandeddemocratic rule in the country in aSunday address shortly after the

secret police arrested the chief editorof Spain's biggest Catholicnewspaper "Ya."

The Cardinal said 'uniformity," theword he uses to refer to one-manrule, "is against nature. It isincompatible with liberty." He wenton to call for a democratic state thatwould permit participation by allSpaniards.

Some observers took this call to beintended as a rebuke to someelements in the opposition, such as

rightist Christian Democrats, who arepushing for a post-Francogovernment to include all politicalgroups with the sole exception of theCommunists.

Roman Catholic priests in Spainare charging Franco with creating a"climate of fear" in the country. In adocument signed so far by 832priests and still being circulated forfurther signatures, the Franco regimewas accused of using torture andharsh repression against its

opponents.

Basques favor

BILBAO, Nov. 8 - The ProvisionalCommission of the BasqueDemocratic Assemblies, representingall the three Basque provinces, hasproclaimed its adherence to therecent joint statement of theDemocratic Junta and theDemocratic Platform of Converg-

ence.In its statement, the Basque group

called for the unity of all theopposition forces in Spain, includingthose from the national minorities,noting that their demands, such asnational autonomy, are included inthe opposition platform.


6/12

New York Post elects officersOver fifty vets, wives and widowsattended the meeting of the NewYork Post on Sunday, Nov. 9. Thisgathering completed the organization

of the post with the election ofofficers and executive board.

The new officers are: Commander -Jack Bjoze; Vice Adj. Commander -Felix Kusman, Secretary - JimPersoff, Treasurer -Moish Breier.

The main feature of the meetingwas an extensive report by LeonardLamb on the situation in Spain andthe tasks of American supporters ofSpanish democracy. He detailed thelatest developments of the fightagainst the Madrid Pact which the

administration now plans to submitto Congress for approval and out-lined plans for the further campaignagainst the Pact under the newcircumstances.

During discussion Moe Fishmandescribed the danger to the lives ofthe political prisoners from thefascist terrorist gangs. These haveinvaded the jails and told theprisoners "You will die the day afterFranco dies."

Various measures for the defenseof the political prisoners wereprojected. One is to move to enlistthe intervention of the InternationalRed Cross on be-half of thethreatened prisoners. A resolutiondemanding the assurance of theprisoners' safety was passed and sentto the Spanish authorities and theU.S. State Dept.

Helen Kusman, who attended theInternational Womens Year Congressin Berlin, brought greetings to VALB

from the German InternationalBrigaders. The message was signedby Kurt Holfer, Executive secretaryof their organization.

The Reform Democratic Asso-ciation of Great Neck, Long Island,N.Y. recently went on record againstthe U.S. bases in Spain. The R.D.A.

is an influential organization in theDemocratic Party in the area.

The resolution adopted at theOctober meeting of its membership,concludes:

"We urge our representatives inthe Senate and House to vote againstthe continuation of our bases inSpain and to vote against the fundingof such bases and, pending suchaction, we further urge a concurrentresolution of the Congress that willbar the intervention of any U.S.

troops in Spain in any civil strifewhich may occur.

Cleveland in the newsBy Morris Stamm

The September issue of the"Cleveland Magazine" (circulation25,000) carried a four-page articleand pictures of the Abraham LincolnBrigade, featuring Salaria Kee andJohn O'Rielly, who now lives in

Akron. She was the only Black nursein Spain and John was an Irishvolunteer who ended up in theLincoln-Washington battalion.

On Oct. 10 a letter to the editor,written by this writer, appeared in the"Plain Dealer" with ~a 3-columnhead. This paper is the largest inOhio with a circulation of over one-half million. The letter dealt withU.S. involvement and the danger ofintervention, asking for the removalof American servicemen and CIA

agents and for a Democratic Spain.We sent out letters to the area

Congressmen and Senator Glennwhich included copies of the fine

"Nation" editorial of Oct. 11 and acopy of the letter to the "PlainDealer" mentioned above with acover letter dealing with a few new

developments in Spain and asking foran appointment in their home offices.Topic Spain, our involvement andthe Pact.

I have been invited to speak on orabout Jan. 20 at Ohio State Uni-versity with a showing of "Dreamsand Nightmares."Elinor Stamm, VALB

Rep. at World Congress

Elinor Stamm, of Cleveland, wife ofour Vet Morris Stamm, and in her

own right an indefatigable fighter forSpain, attended the recent WorldCongress of International Womens'Year in Berlin (GDR). A member ofthe U.S. delegation, she also carriedcredentials as an official observer forVALB.

Elinor reports that the anti-fascistwomen of Spain were represented.After Elinor spoke at the sectionmeeting she was attending,introducing herself as representingVALB, the Spanish delegate presentcame to her with hugs and kisses.

The Congress included a referenceto Spain in its resolution on peace ina section which read, "In this year ofthe 30th Anniversary of the defeat offascism, peace-loving public opinionhails with great satisfaction the suc-cesses of the democratic and anti-fascist forces in Greece and Portugalexpressing our solidarity and supportin the struggle they are waging aswell as to the Spanish democrats in

their fight for fundamentaldemocratic changes"

39th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF VALB I

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 15,1976

STATLER-HILTON HOTEL, NEW YORK CITY

WATCH FOR DETAILS


7/12

A shout of triumph

By LLOYD L. BROWN

Like millions of people around theWorld, my fellow-soldiers at a U.S.

Army Base were overjoyed to hearthat Hitler's forces had finally beencrushed. Yet whenever I think backto the happy day we Americanscalled V-E Day, I remember most ofall the terrible sadness that over-whelmed me on account of my friendHarry.

Before the war Harry and I werethe closest of friends. Indeed,although Harry was white and I amNegro, it could be said that we werebrothers. Our kinship was basedupon a common outlook that inspiredus to become militant anti-fascistsand take part in struggles thateventually landed us in neighboringprison cells.

Conservative elements in ourcountry would later refer to Amer-icans like us as "premature anti-fascists." Several years before theUnited States got into the war againstthe Axis Powers, Harry"prematurely" took up arms against

the fascist enemy. He went to Spainas a volunteer soldier in the AbrahamLincoln Brigade, half of whose mengave their lives in the desperatestruggle to make Madrid the tomb offascism.

By some miracle Harry survived,though his thin body had beenstitched across by machine-gunbullets. When he came home and Isaw the row of scars on his narrowchest and back where the bullets hadentered and left. I kidded him by

saying: "Harry, no wonder you werenot killed - you're so skinny therewas nothing to get hit!" His answer-ing smile was more like a crookedgrimace, because one of the bulletshad in fact hit something solid. It had

smashed his lower jaw.Then when our country entered the

war and Harry was found to bephysically unfit for army service, hepromptly joined the merchantmarine. Since he knew that the mainblows against the German fascistswere being delivered by the armedforces of the Soviet Union, Harryvolunteered to serve with anAmerican convoy carrying warsupplies to Murmansk. His ship wastorpedoed and this time there was nomiracle. Harry's frail body could notwithstand the cruel wind and sea, andhe died on the life raft on which hisshipmates survived. . .

We were celebrating late into thenight of V-E Day when suddenly,

louder than the singing and shoutingthat filled our barracks, a scream ofsorrow seemed to burst within meand I ran out into the darkness. Youdid not live to see it end I ranstumbling across the fields in thestillness of the far reaching airfield.On the shore of that concrete lake Isat down and cried and cried.

As I thought of my lost youngfriend and tried to bring him back tolife in memory, there flashed theimage of his crooked smile. Now I

had to smile myself at how he wouldhave poked fun at me for myunmanly behavior. Then I sprang tomy feet and shouted aloud: "Harry -your side has won!" And I continuedto yell out the joyous news until Icould shout no more, that our sidehad won and that Harry and all theothers who died in the fight againstfascism must be counted among thevictors on this day of triumph.

Then, feeling good all over, I ranback to join my fellow-soldiers asthey celebrated the end of the war.

(Editorial Note: Lloyd Brown is anold friend of VALB. He is presentlywriting the comprehensive biographyof Paul Robeson. The "Harry" ofwhom he writes was Harry Steinberg

of Pittsburgh. The above is part ofLloyd's article as it appeared in theSoviet magazine, "Literary Gazette"in its recent issue devoted to the 30thanniversary of the defeat of NaziGermany.)

SPEAKERS BUREAU

NEW YORK - Recent weeks haveseen an upsurge in the activities ofthe VALB Speakers according to itschairman, Larry Cane. VALBspeakers are appearing beforeaudiences in trade unions, collegesand neighbor-hoods. Very often thefilm "Dreams and Nightmares" isshown as part of the program. Thisillustrates the widening interest in

Spain reawakened by current eventsand the great pool of latent supportfor Spanish democracy.

To date our speakers have appearedbefore such audiences as a teach-inon Spain at the State University ofNew York at Albany, the N.Y. PublicLibrary O'Donnell Center, The Furand Leather Workers, District 65 ofthe Retail Workers, Montclair StateCollege, etc. Audiences have rangedfrom 75 to 150 and were mostresponsive. Speakers for VALB

included Maury Colow, Hy Wallach,Lenny Lamb, Morris Brier and TomLloyd.

In prospect are December meet-ings, including showings of the film,at a number of colleges such asHamilton, Washington, Swarthmore,Queens and Syracuse University.Also scheduled are speakers beforethe Manhattan Chapter of theNational Lawyers Guild, BergenCounty (N.J.) Committee for LatinAmerican Studies and Local 1199,Drug and Hospital Workers.

Note: Speakers can be obtained byrequest to VALB Speakers Bureau,Rm. 239, 799 Broadway, New York,N.Y. 10003.


8/12

Labor assails Madrid PactThe 40th National Convention of theUnited Electrical Workers (U.E.),recently held in San Francisco, took astrong stand against the Madrid Pact.

This stand was expressed in aresolution entitled "InternationalTrade Union Unity"

In regard to Spain the resolutionstates:

"WHEREAS: U.S. corporationscontinually seek to protect foreignregimes which support them in theoppression of working peopleemployed in runaway plants from theUnited States. This is seen in Spainwhere in response to unionorganization and strikes at GE,

Westinghouse, ITT and other foreignowned plants there have been massarrests of labor leaders,

RESOLVED: That this conventionurge the State Department to cancelthe Madrid Pact, to pressure theFranco government of Spain to freethe jailed unionists, and express itssympathy with the Spanish workersfighting for the right to organizetrade unions. The Franco governmentuses its military agreement with the

United States to perpetuate fascistoppression of the people and as acontinuing threat of U.S. interventionagainst rising democratic struggles

there.After condemning Franco'sSeptember executions and the U.S.-Madrid Pact, a resolution of theExecutive Board, New York District1199, Drug and Hospital Union,concludes as follows:"The shameful silence of ourgovernment should not be matchedby the silence of the Americanpeople. Therefore, we in District1199 condemn the Ford Adminis-tration's silence on the Franco terror

and its continued support of abankrupt and dying Franco regime."We call on 1199 members to presstheir Senators and Representatives inthe Congress to demand a sweepingchange in our governments policy ofsubverting democracy in Spain withits intervention on the side of theSpanish dictatorship.

"We urge our members who areplanning to travel abroad to stay outof Franco Spain.

"And we call upon the AFL-CIO tospeak out against our government'spolicy in Spain."

Teach-in atU. of Minn.

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 9 - Severalhundred University of Minnesotastudents packed an auditoriumTuesday to protest the brutalrepressions by Franco in Spain. Theprotest, billed as a teach-in, wasorganized by Spanish studentsattending the University and was co-sponsored by the Department ofSpanish and Portuguese.

A resolution was adopted urgingthe United States to withdraw itsAmbassador from Spain, ceasecurrent negotiations of any kind withSpain, and halt all deliveries ofmilitary equipment until democraticrights are given to the Spanishpeople.

After the teach-in, an effigy ofFranco was paraded around thecampus and set on fire

A small portion of a picket line of 1,000 supporters of a Free Spain in Los Angeles. Responding

to a hurried call of organizations supporting a democratic Spain, among the Committee for

Democratic Spain, various Spanish and student groups and VALB, assembled at the City

Center to counter a "Columbus Day Celebration" of a small group of France supporters.


9/12

Will Carroll, brigade armorer, rememberedMilt Wolff has provided the

following story about Will Carrollwho died recently.As armorer for the Brigade, or

perhaps only for the LincolnBattalion, Will Carroll performedmiracles with the little he had in theway of whatever it is that Armorersneed to keep guns functioning,grenades primed and ammunitiondry. He moved the stuff around bytruck when one was available and theterrain permitted, otherwise by burro.Though the Lincoln's, during histenure at least, were often caughtshort on many things, we were neverwithout enough ammo for such

weapons as we had.When Merriman and Doran came

up to the lines somewhere aroundVillalba de los Arcos to pull theLincolns out in a doomed race to beatthe Fascists to the bridge across theEbro, we were confronted with aproblem having to do with thedisposition of the Armory inasmuchas we were totally without vehiclesor animals and speed was of theessence.

Carroll led me to the ammo dump,

a pile of crates each about five or sixfeet cubed, stacked about 100 metersfrom an impressive walled-inhacienda. "Can you blow it, Bill?""Sure," he replied sadly. "But if I do,it might bring that fancy farmhousedown." "We can't leave it for theFascists so you have to blow it up.Don't worry about the Casa, no one'sin it . . . just don't blow yourself up."

We left him behind to do the joband after a while there was this

terrible explosion.Thirty one years later I ran into BillCarroll and his wife at a Vets'meeting in Carmel. He was lookingforward to retirement and had movedhimself and his wile into a camper.

The plan was to travel.

We got to talking about the olddays and he reminded me of ammodump, "Milt, when back theretogether I will lead you right to thespot where I buried the ammo andguns." "What," said I, "you neverdid. You blew them up." "Heck, no,"said he. "I buried them off the road inan embankment not far from the farmhouse - you remember the farmhouseand I can lead you right to it. I neverblew it up because it belongs to the

Spanish people and some day they'llneed it."Unless he left a map, I'm going to

have to go over that piece of terrainwith a mine-detector I plan knowBill won't rest easy until the stuff isin the right hands again.

Fred Shofs, Battalion Qmstr.

From West Germany in a letterfrom his wife, comes the sad newsthat Fred Shofs is dead. Fred was oneof the finest, best-known and best-loved comrades in the Brigade.

Fred Shofs was one of those veryremarkable men who had hadconsiderable experience fightingNazism years before he took gun in

hand in Spain. A hunted man in NaziGermany, he escaped from theGestapo and eventually made it tothe United States where he lived

precariously as an illegal alien.Those were the years when anti-fascists, victims of fascism, werelabeled by the State Department as"dangerous and undesirable."

Fred, though an able soldier,willingly served as Mess Sergeant forthe Lincolns through most of thebattles in Spain. Fred understood theimportance of food, hot whenpossible or as un-chilled as he couldmanage when conditions -such as"THE NORTH POLE" and Hill 666 -

were impossible.Whether careening along shell-

pocked roads under artillery fire inan old Matford lorry or balancingcanisters on the swaying sides ofsweating burros making the steepclimb up the Sierra Ca-balls, "Thetrick,': Fred remarked, "was to keepthe lids on and heat in. And get therein time, no matter what."

"Getting the chow up" was for Freda most important contribution to thefight against Franco. After all, "We

have plenty of riflemen but howmany cooks?" And while the cookingwasn't gourmet, as AO notes in hisfilm, it was as good as that beingserved at the Hotel Majestic, thoughwith considerable less linen andsilver.

Because of his status, we wereunable to get Fred back into thiscountry after the war. Along withhundreds of other IB'ers Fred wasincarcerated in the Concentration

Camps of Southern France and onlyjust managed to escape after the fallof Paris and ahead of the


WILLIAM REID CARROLL


10/12

Camacho and 2 freedContinued from page 1

elements in other countries thatinspired a world-wide campaign for

their release."We were," Steve said "among the

first to help and to cooperate fullywith The Committee For TheCarabanchel Ten, along with otherfriends of democracy.

The record shows that at theopening of the trial of the Ten, in De-cember 1973, the followingAmerican observers were present:Eric Schmidt, then Secretary of TheCommittee For The CarabanchelTen, now Secretary of the U.S.

Committee For a Democratic Spain,Ramsey Clark, former United StatesAttorney General, Henry Foner,President of the New York JointBoard of the Fur and Leather Work-ers Union, and Henry Giler, WestCoast lawyer representing theVALB.

The trial of the Ten opened onDecember 20, 1973, the day whenFranco's Premier, Luis CarreroBlanco, died in an explosion. The

defendants were accused of holdingan illegal meeting on June 24, 1972,in a convent outside Madrid. For this"crime" they were sentenced to atotal of 167 years of imprisonment.Camacho was given a 20-yearsentence. Sartorius was given 19years and Muniz 18 years.

In the wake of tremendous pr~ testsfrom virtually every country in theworld, the Spanish Supreme Court,last February, reduced Camacho'ssentence to six years. Sentences

against Sartorius and Muniz, werereduced to five years and four yearsand two months, respectively.

American observers were presentin Madrid at the time of the SupremeCourt proceedings. They included:Paul O'Dwyer, President of the CityCouncil of the City of New York,William Colovito, Secretary-Treasurer of the Iron Workers Local455, and Eric Schmidt, Secretary of

the U.S. Committee For ADemocratic Spain. The delegation

presented a petition bearing thesignatures of almost 100 prominentAmericans, including trade unionleaders representing over fourmillion American workers.

A pertinent comment onCamacho's release was made byHenry Giniger of the New YorkTimes. His report noted that "the

timing of the release, in the middle ofa bitterly cold night, was apparentlydesigned to avoid crowds. Even so,about 150 persons, most of themfamily members were waitingoutside the gates."

"Later in the morning," the Timesman added, "500 of Camacho's

neighbors staged a demonstrationoutside his house to celebrate his re-turn and demand amnesty for othersstill behind bars."

Fred ShofsContinued from page 9

SS who came searching out the anti-fascist German Nationals.

Somehow he became part of theunderground resistance in France and

later on in Germany. After the fall ofHitler and the Allied occupation of adivided Germany, Fred elected toremain in West Germany where hewas active in the Trade Unionmovement and in the CommunistParty.

He could have, had he wished,gone to live in East Germany whereas an IB'er he would have beenhonored, received a pension, animportant post and so forth. But Fredalways opted for the job in which he

could make the greatest contributionto the fight against fascism and thework of building a better world. Heis missed.

TERROR REIGNSContinued from page 3

ition. Despite repeated protests thepolice have failed to undertake anycounter-measures.

Other vigilante groups include:

Centro Espanol de Amigos deEuropa (works with the BelgianRexists and Italian neo-fascists),Cruz Iberica and DefensaUniversitaria. In addition to theseself-appointed vigilante groups, socalled "respectable" right-winggroups, like the Council of Civil WarVeterans, headed by Jose AntonioGiron de Velasco, perpetrate similaroutrages.

NOTE WELL!

An enormous truth isemerging in the currentdiscussion of Spain on TVand in the press.

A number of TV commenta-tors and newspapermen haveflatly declared that the Francoregime was on the verge offalling in 19~5 until the U.S.came to its rescue.

MARCELINO CAMACHO


11/12

Franco's last daysContinued from page 1

that revealed the total moral isolationof the Spanish dictatorship.

It has been reported that on oc-casion, Franco has attained momentsof lucidity. One wonders what goesthrough his mind, particularly as hesees the rows of bottles of blood thatthe machines deliver to his veins.Does this vision recall the oceans ofblood that were spilled to bring himto power or the thousands of gallonsof the blood of the best Spaniardsthat he shed to keep the regime stableduring a "generation of peace."

As he is aware of his own decaying

flesh, does he think of the batteredbodies produced with macabreregularity by his Guardia Civil andthe Brigada Social? Does heremember his comrades-in-arms whoremained loyal to the Republic inJuly of 1936 and who were shot byhis orders? Does he remember JulianGrimau?

In the rooms in the El PardoPalace, where the long rites ofnecrology have been played out,there is a place for the colonels of the

Blue Division who stayed be-hind toprotect Hitler's Bunker in May of1945. Before the coma set in, didthey discuss the glorious days whenFranco promised the Fuehrer onemillion Spaniards? Or did his mindturn to his later guardians, theAmericans whose B47s and B5Osreplaced the Heinkels and Junkers,whose hydrogen bombs, based inSpain proclaimed the benevolentinterest of the Eisenhower-Nixonregime in the maintenance of Iberianorder, and a benign neglect of therights of 30 million Spaniards?

In the wings, waits the crownprince Juan Carlos, and a RegencyCouncil and an odd assortment ofhistorical fossils, pledged to retain

the essence of Francoism under thebanner of the Bourbons. One canimagine that the installation of theKing has been meticulouslyprepared; that Henry Kissinger andHarold Wilson, Willy Brandt,Rockefeller and a galaxy of otherfavorites of the American"Intelligence Community" havemade their plans. The motif is anorderly and peaceful transfer ofpower.

There is one disturbing element leftout of such a scenario: the Spanishpeople and their institutions, formed

in the terrible gestation period 9f 35years: the Junta Democratica,representing a coalition of politicaltendencies from Monarchist tocommunist; the ConvergenciaDemocratica which unites SocialDemocrats and Christian Democrats;the Workers Commissions; the var-ious regional alliances pledged toautonomy in Catalonia, the BasqueCountry and Galicia; FRAP, etc.

Furthermore, within the traditionalsocial formations of the Country,

Army, Church, BusinessCommunity, there have emergedpowerful factions which havepublicly disowned the melancholypast and asserted that the politicalstructure of the post-Franco Spain isto be decided by the sovereign will ofthe Spanish people, freely expressingitself through political parties andopen vote.

It is also clear that there are heavilyarmed ultra-Rightist groups who areprepared to abort the third Republicin the sanguinary fashion of theChilean Pinochet, the Greek Colonelsand the Brazilian Generals.

Yet, it is also clear that the im-mediate future of Spain cannot beforecast by references to the

Republic of 1931-1939. The agrarianSpain that the volunteers knew, lovedand died for has vanished. Factorieshave mushroomed in the once-emptyvalleys of Castile and Aragon. Fiat,Westinghouse, U.S. Steel, GeneralMotors, Gulf. , Union Carbide,Volkswagen, Michelin, Pirelli, theindustrial giants of Europe and NorthAmerica have created an industrialSpain and thus a proletarian Spain, abourgeois Spain. The technocrats, theOpus Dei, are much concerned withthe fugitive links to the CommonMarket. They are willing to pay a

price for that expected flow ofCapital and dividends - they willprobably grant the facade of aconstitutional order. Their grand-fathers did as much.

The question is: will the Spanishpeople settle for less than completecontrol over the wealth of Spain andcomplete control over the politicalprocesses that shape the tone andtexture of daily life? It is most likelythat, after so much suffering and somany gross betrayals, the working

men and women of Spain will notappear as supplicants for theirfreedom and dignity. They willmobilize in the streets and take it!

As, I had the privilege of writing inthe introduction to Arthur Landis'book, Spain: the UnfinishedRevolution: "The Revolution of theSpanish people was crushed bydomestic and foreign counterrevolutionary force; but revolutionsarising from the historic experienceof an ancient people will reestablishroots in the very earth thattemporarily serves as a shroud for theentombed revolutionaries. Such nowis the Spanish earth."

November 15, 1975

Robert Colodny is a veteran of Spain and professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh. He has authored severalbooks on Spain, notably "The Struggle for Madrid" and "Spain: the Glory and Tragedy."


12/12

Interesting things happen in asmall town. People get to knowwho you are, your background.In-variably, when I hit town topick up my newspaper, voicescall out: "Hey, Maury, Franco'salmost dead!!" My friends havebeen made aware that greatchanges are taking place in Spaintoday. when the executions were

announced I received many calls:"What can be done?" Somehow

a few individuals decided onapplying direct pressure to IberiaAir Lines. Using a free telephoneline, they asked Iberia for the nextschedule of executions. Theyclaimed to be "execution freaks"and wanted to make reservationsaccordingly. They felt that this

form of protest would be reportedback to Spain, and they mighthave been right. When I was inNew York a few weeks ago I alsocalled Iberia Air Lines with thesame approach. The person on theother end exclaimed: "Oh no!What's going on?" So this weirdprotest was working.

I also got some key personali-

ties to write directly to our localCongressman Matt McHugh.They urged him to vote againstfunding the U.S.-Spanish baseagreement. They urged him tooppose squandering millions ofour tax dollars in another lastditch effort to prop up anotherunpopular fascist regime. On thatbasis all kinds of people of thepolitical spectrum could react tothis issue - and they did. We arenow in the process of organizing

a delegation - a localcouncilwoman, a screen-writer, abusinessman and artists who willpin him down to opposing theMadrid Pact. A great opportunityexists now that the StateDepartment has agreed to presentthe issue to Congress. We canreally lobby against it on a locallevel. Our legislators are reallysensitive and pay lots of attentionto grass roots expression.

Salud, MAURY COLOW

REQUIRED

READING

ON SPAIN

"The fact that... American-backed

Spanish tyranny is 'an internalmatter' for Madrid and no concernof Washington, is a car~ fullynurtured illusion that has nowbeen destroyed. Doing just thatwas the task last June of aWashington conference, 'Spain -Implications for U.S. ForeignPolicy.' A transcript of themeeting has just been published."

That is how the Nation of Oct.11, began its editorial on Spain.

The VALB ordered 400 of thetranscripts but only 150 weredelivered because the demand ex-ceeded the small supply.

Now, a publisher "Greylock,"which specializes in academia, isbringing out a soft and hard cover

edition simultaneously. The softcover edition will sell for $2.95.It contains not only a transcript ofthe conference, but a positionpaper on Spain written by Prof.Will Watson.

Participating in the conferencewere many academic experts suchas Bob Colodny (VALB), GabrielJackson, Will Watson, Casals andothers. Bruce Laingen, DeputyUnder-secretary of State respon-sible for Western Europe,

represented the State Department.Three delegates were presentfrom the Junta Democratica deEspana. Congressman Maguire ofNew Jersey chaired the con-ference and AmbassadorPedersen moderated. Twenty-fiveRepresentatives and 15 Senatorssponsored the conference.

Since it took place, the "Trans-cript" has become a "hot" paperaround Washington. Everyonewants it. Copies have been sent toa few of the news media and werequoted from or copiedextensively.

Together with the Landis book,"Unfinished Revolution," thesetwo constitute an indispensablelibrary on Spain.

NEW RELEASES(All in Paperback)

"Spain - Implications forUnited States Foreign Policy"@ $2.95. See review above.

"Spain - The UnfinishedRevolution" - Arthur Landis ~$2.95. An historical must.

"Spain Again" - Alvah Bessie@$5.00. Bessie Returns.

"Men in Battle" - Alvah Bessie@$6.00. Re-issued classic.

Both Bessie books - $10.50.

Send me the indicated books:Name:__________________Add: ___________________________________________Amount enclosed: $ _______Make checks payable to:VALB or Hy WallachRoom 239,799 BroadwayNew York, N.Y. 10003

"The Spanish people will

have the last word"

-"Tziki"

(one of the five executed by Franco Sept. 27,1975, in his last statement).

Colow writes from Woodstock

the volunteer, december 1975

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