character. The atmosphere was one of war. Many buildings

were shattered by shells with gaping holes replacing windows.

Some buildings were completely destroyed, only iron and cement remaining. Barricades spanned the streets, with open»

pings for streetcars and autos to pass.

Sand bags covered windows of stores and banks. To get into the Gran Via Cafe, one had to go down as. if into a trench, and walk through a door made of sandbags. Cafes were filled with soldiers and officers, talking and singing, drinking wine and Vermouth. Billboards and fences were covered with posters issued by various anti»fascist organizations, in various ways, expressing one thought; Unity will defeat the enemy.

While crossing the Puerta del Sol, the main square in the

city, sirens sounded alarm. Enemy airplanes were approach~

ing. Anti»aircraft guns began to fire. Looking up, we saw

‘twelve airplanes high in the air. Most people went about _calmly; some hurried to the subway for shelter. As if from nowhere, six Government airplanes appeared. Joyful shouts of

“Viva nuestra gloriosa!”

Toward the evening the sound of firing machine—guns was heard. It came from the front lines which ran through Uni- versity City, a suburb of Madrid. No one seemed to pay any attention.

To the Front

N June 26th, we received orders to complete all work on the tanks within two days. We hoped that this meant that we were going to the front. We were disappointed when two, three, and four days passed and we were still in the camp. There was a feeling in the air, however, that something was

being planned. On July 2nd., orders were received to move.

My company left on July 3rd. Tenrton White trucks were used in transporting the tanks for the required long distance. A caravan of fifteen trucks, loaded with tanks, rolled over the paved roads. ,

We stopped near a village for two days, about fifteen miles behind the lines. At 3.30 a.m., of July 5th, my company

pio