EXCITING TIME

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1931, Page 3

EXCITING TIME

EXPERIENCES IN SPAIN. RIFLE FIRE IN THE STREETS. WELLINGTON, September 21. The experience of being in Spain during tlie revolution and having to take shelter from rifle fire in the streets was the lot of two New Zealandei s. Misses H. G. Jones (Christchurch) and G. D. Seifert (Palmerston North), who' returned by the Makura to-day from a world tour. The travellers were concluding a three weeks’ tour of Spain when they arrived at Valencia on the day prior to the overthrow of the Monarchy. Everybody >in the. town was very excited and it was impossible for them to get accurate information about wlmt was happening. On the evening of the elections they were in the streets when there was a disturbance. Rifle shots were fired and, in company with others, they sheltered in a cafe. When they ventured out there was another disturbance. The streets were cleared and, with a number of citizens, they were locked in the cafe for a number of hours. They did not experience any difficulty in leaving for Barcelona. They reached France some four days later and read in the newspapers.for the first time of the revolution.

Both Miss Jones and Miss Seifert did a considerable amount of walking on the tour, particularly in Brittany and the South of England. “The popularity of hiking in Austria and Germany is astonishing.” said Miss Seifert. “One sees whole families on J-lie road. Excursions are not made by young people* only.”