almost torn from our bodies. At one time the wind had grown so strong 
that we had to hug the ground for 15 minutes until it had abated and 
our guide considered it safe enough to continue. We tramped across 
the peak and about one kilometer away was another smaller peak 
which we were to cross before getting into Spain. With renewed hope 
and vigor we struggled on to our destination. 
We arrived at daybreak. Everything seemed beautiful! We could 
see for many kilometers ahead the land that lay before us. The sun 
rose slowly. A wonderful purple haze covered everything! We approa- 
ched a huge white house from which the Catalonian Border Patrol 
rushed out to greet us. Walking to the house, we sang with one mighty 
voice the International. The sun rose in all its glory! 

In Training for the Front 

In villages in the vicinity of Albacete, the different units of the XV 
Brigade had varying periods of training. The Dimitrov and Franco- 
Belge volunteers came from countries where military service is com- 
pulsory. With them it was mainly a problem of organisation to over- 
come language difficulties. The British were fortunate in that they had 
both experienced British Army veterans, and youthful veterans of the 
Spanish War to direct their training. They were equally fortunate in 
being organised at Battalion strength early in January and thus having 
more than a month of training as a Battalion. The Irish too were mostly 
veterans with experience of warfare in their own country. 
Most of the Americans had no previous military experience. They 
had to learn everything from the beginning, and there were few manuals 
and few instructors available. Grenade, rifle and machine-gun hard to 
be mastered; scouting, street-fighting and campaigning had to be learn- 
ed and then taught to newcomers. In the middle of January the Lincoln 
Battalion was less than half-strength. As new groups arrived, new 
organisational and training difficulties had to be surmounted. The Bat- 
talion was still under strength when the Fascist armies launched their 
big offensive on the Jarama Front, on February 6. 
On February 7, the British Battalion broke camp and left for the 
Jarama Front. 
The Lincoln Battalion followed them exactly nine days later, on 
February 16, 1937. 

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