of readiness as action was needed urgently. In five days, 30,-
000 youths had responded to the call of those banners waving 
across the streets. There was no need for a decree of mobiliza-
tion. Catalonia was being threatened and its people with re-
newed vigor flocked to the help of their Government.

Eagles of Democracy

THE fascists intensified their bombardment of the civilian 
population. Whole towns were completely wiped out 
Air-raids on Barcelona increased. Its suburbs were bombarded 
several times daily. Death, suffering and ruins, but no weaken 
ing of the people!

On April 9th, about two hundred airplanes appeared over 
Barcelona. They did not drop bombs! Leaflets were showered 
on all parts of the city bearing the famous words of Dr. Negrin: 
"Resist! Resist! Resist! Resist today to conquer tomorrow!" 
Shouts filled the streets from every direction as people every 
where shouted "Nuestra gloriosa!" The demonstration had 
a tremendous effect adding courage and the will to resist.

The next day was another holiday for me. The represent-
ative of the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in 
Barcelona, visited me, bringing a parcel of Canadian cigarettes, 
chocolates and cake. I treated the Spanish aviators in the hos-
pital. Smokes were rather scarce at that time.

In this hospital I became acquainted with many aviators. 
The feats I related to them of heroism of the tankists appeared 
pale in comparison with the stories I heard from the aviators. 
One of the aviators in the hospital at that time, 
a young lad twenty-three years old, had lost both 
legs in a fight against German Messerschmidt air-
planes. There were sixteen Government airplanes fighting 
against forty-eight German planes. This was the third battle 
in which the newly arrived Messerschmidts had been engaged. 
Their losses were three to one According to the explanation of 
this aviator, while superiority in technique is decisive, actually 
what counts is the man who commands this technique, and 
that is the main reason for the heavy losses among the fascist 
airplanes in proportion to those of the Republic.

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