LAS PALMAS ZONE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20258, 29 July 1937, Page 5

LAS PALMAS ZONE.

j "SWARMING WITH SOLDIERS.” J DR PINFOLD’S IMPRESSIONS. I ‘.‘The breakwater, port and town of ! Las Palmas are swarming with men in j uniform, some very llerce-looking, J others seedy, needy, truculent or ben- ! evolent, according to their type, i writes Dr. F. D. Pinfold to a friend in : Hamilton, commenting on Ihc recruits i for Genera! Franco’s armv whom he ! saw I here when on his way lo Eng- j land. "Las Palmas is in the hands of • Franco’s parly.” he writes, “and is j obviously n military zone, but as a j Ope of humanity these Spaniards are ; a poor lot. Probably Ibis is explained j by the absence in the fighting line of : 1 the heller men. The really line men ; I are the Moroccans, a few of whom are j iin Ihc town. The olHcers are mostly i 1 volunteers Trom the best classes on i the island, and are dressed in well-cut j j blue uniforms. I “livery little while a squad of about .’ill young fellows, some in uniform, i some in duncarees. willi a mixed as- j* sorlmenl <.r rides 'some of which 1 j Zealand ill IPI i. and others of a cheap j Belgian make march through the | lown as part of Hie recruiting scheme j In lake e\ery possible lighting unit ! 1.. Spain.” says Dr. Pinfold. ”Franco's supporters have 1100 i c.ommiiuisl s in a concent ration prison camp near the town, but many are j still biding in the wilder parts of the I luuL,h uo in ucal iinJnniiL)

| The walls of buildings. Dr. Pinfold I slates, are plastered willi posters api pealing lo llu‘ public to make sacrifices ! for their newly-freed country and there is also noticeable abroad the | usual f'rvour for "Ihe cause." Yolimj leer soldiers, be adds, receive no pay. j while Ihc ulh'.Ti may receive it "-"ine