would receive new clothes and 500 francs each and then be put over the 
border into France. 
Five days later we left for Fuente Rubia, but Leeson and Goldberg 
were retained as hostages for our good behaviour when we returned to 
Britain. By that we understood that if we publicised our horrible treat- 
ment at the hands of the Fascists then Leeson and Goldberg would suffer. 
At Fuente Rubia we were housed in a hotel and given comparatively 
good treatment in comparison with what we had been through. We 
were paraded before the press photographers as the objects of Franco’s 
great generosity. Actually, as we learned later, our release was got by 
the Spanish Government exchanging captured Fascist officers for us. 
The “generosity” of Franco was sufficiently illustrated one day when we 
were being photographed by the press. A Sergeant was photographed 
with us. He had in his arms a supply of packets of cigarettes, which, 
to all appearances, he was about to issue to us. After the photograph 
had been taken the Sergeant walked away with the cigarettes — without 
issuing a single one! 
Eventually we were placed over the bonder, but before leaving Irun 
attempts were made to get us to speak into a microphone and cry “Viva 
Franco!” on the threat that failure to do so would mean our continued 
detention. This was done by one of our number, on our behalf, in a 
manner which gave us no cause for shame and which could give Franco 
little grounds for satisfaction. 
We reached England on May 30 after three months in the hands of 
the Fascists. It was an experience which none of us will ever be able 
to forget, an experience the physical effects of which some of us will 
carry to our graves. 
J. R. 

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