Canadian Trades and Labor Congress raised its voice. In a resolution passed unanimously it voted:

“That this congress wishes to express to the workers of Spain our appreciation of their splendid fight in defense of their liberties and esp-e-cially of their democratic icnstitutio-ns and government, cons~tituti»ona.1ly elected, and that this congress places itself further on record in the interests of international solidarity as ex-pressing to the Spanish Workers our sincere interest in their struggle and extends to them our Whole hearted support in the fight for justi-ce, freedom and peace and our hopes for an early and victorious finish.”

Later in September the Canadian unemployed in the city of Winni- peg, 1000 in number, asked Premier King to provide for their transport- ation to Spain.

“Today We are idle men”, their petition read. “We -do not Want history to re-cord that We remained idle men when International Fascism hammered humanity with blows: that struck at the very roots of -civilization.”

From Toronto and Montreal, from Victoria, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, from every ‘part of Canada, -came employed and unemplloyed; l-umberjacks and professionals; Catholics and those of other faiths. The first groups arrived in early February and joined the Lincoln Battalion. Later, their numbers were augmented until they reached full Battalion

strength. In the Autumn of 1937, the Canadian Mac Kenzie-Papineau

Battalion was Jincorporated in the XV Brigade.

The Irish Unit

Ireland, as was expected, contributed its share early. As far back as September Irishmen were fighting in a Centuria on the Aragon Front, and later in the Thaelmann and Dumont columlns. In December a large contingent arrived and served on the Cordova and Madrid fronts. In January, the survivors of these formations an-d new arrivals Were in- corporated in the XV Brigade. They were commanded by Frank Ryan.

They -came primarily to fight International Fascism. They had added incentive in that O’Duffy, traitor ex-General, had induced a body of Irishmen to help the Fascist Generals of Spain “in defence of Christ- ianity!”

The First Irish Section led by “Kit” Conway, fought in the Sixteenth Battalion; the Second Section, led by Eddie Flaherty, composed mainly of Irish exiles, and Irish-Americans, reinforced the Lincoln Battalion.

28