"AGREEMENT A FARCE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 129, 2 June 1937, Page 11

"AGREEMENT A FARCE"

N.Z. AIRMAN'S [VIEW

SERVICE IN SPAIN

FOREIGN AEROPLANES

(Received June 2, 1 pjn.)

FREMANTLE, This Day.

Captain E. N. Griffiths, a New Zealand aviator who arrived by the Maloja, said he had been on active service with the Spanish Government forces and that the non-intervention agreement was a farce. All the rebel aircraft were either German or Italian, and they were mostly imported through Portugal. The Government planes, totalling about 300, were mostly of Russian origin, and they were outnumbered by at least two to one by the rebel air force.

Captain Griffiths, who was wounded while fighting enemy planes at Toledo on September 26 last year, hopes to return to Spain after three months' holiday" in New Zealand. Captain Griffiths said that he was a member of the last Byrd Antarctic Expedition and since, then had been flying commercial machines in China. FOREIGN AID TO BOTH SIDES. Considerable help, with men, munitions, and aeroplanes had come "from Russia for' the loyalists while, with the rebel forces, there were about 120,000 Italians and between 40,000 and 50,000 Germans. ■

"It seems to be a fight until one or the other side is exterminated," he said. "Russian machines were first brought in in sections but now factories have been equipped in Spain and they are turning out . complete aeroplanes at the< rate of two a day." Explaining his participation in the hostilities, Captain Griffiths said that in August he was engaged-to fly aeroplanes purchased by the Spanish Government from England to Spain. These activities were subsequently stopped by the British Government and he then received an offer to fight as a pilot for the Government forces and he joined a squadron at Madrid. Of 20 members 16 were killed and three wounded. The other was still fighting. Five were British and only one other and himself escaped.