It is Spain’s great tragedy that she has hitherto been so little understood: the story of the sufferings of a people that is bleeding from a thousand wounds and still will not give up the fight, because it knows that it carries in its breast the precious growth of Freedom and human dignity on which the future of all of us depends. —RUDOLF ROCKER (“ The Tragedy of Spain ” ) Vol. 2. No. 27. LONDON, 5th JANUARY, 1958 PRICE 2d.— U.S.A. 5 CENTS. The 25th Division formed by 118th Brigades fought gallantly, the 15th, the 116th and 117th causing enormous losses to the brigades, on orders received enemy. The 116th Mixed Bri­ from the High Command, left gade played the greatest part in for the Ternel front with the THE STRUGGLE FOR the capture of Teruel, being the object of occupying the posi­ force nearest the town when it tions designated by Army surrendered. During the after­ Headquarters. Tbe command noon of the 21st, and while the of tbe 25tb Division is in charge TERUEL men of tbe 116th Brigade were of the old CNT member, com­ fighting from house to house, it rade \ ivancos, who, from the received information that the beginning of the war, has been town had surrendered to the doing invaluable work. 20th Army Corp, thus ending The 116th Brigade, whose And The Pari Played By The ten days of the most intense military Commander is Boada fighting in bitter cold and snow. and political Commissar Fran­ We can safely say that the cisco Merono. also an old mem­ C.N.T’F.A.I. Commanders. Officers and men, ber of tbe CNT, left for the of tbe 25th Division, were those town of Corbalan. The 118th (REPORT FROM THE TERUEL FRONT) who contributed most towards Brigade, under Castan and po­ victory, having taken part in litical Commissar Carot. took relieved tbe 117th Brigade and selves at the enemy positions tbe rebels, surrounded in Teru­ the attacks on Teruel from the up positions in Cedrilla, and continued the action against and although we suffered a con­ el. Tbe hero of this engage­ first day, from the North and the 117th Brigade, under Bre- Teruel from the cemetery side. siderable number of losses, the ment was Commander Esealona, North East. The area of the tos, also a comrade of ours, On the 19th, the Air Force car­ battle was won. On the 20th, who at tbe head of 3 battalions, ground taken, covers nearly 500 placed itself in Estriche. The ried out several flights and the our batteries, commanded by in tbe space of three hours, sent square kilometres. We suffered High Command of the Division 118th Brigade attempted on Esealona. with uncanny preci­ 1.500 shells into the ranks of between dead and wounded, billeted in the town of Corba­ several occasions to take the de­ sion poured shell after shell the enemy with such devastating some 2.000 casualties, and it is lan. Early in tbe morning of fences protecting the entry into right in the middle of the ene­ effects, that tbe casualties in­ calculated that between dead the 15th. the 116th and 117th Ternel, but without success. my fortifications and from flicted were well over 3,000. and wounded and prisoners, the Brigades took up positions for Seeing that the tanks did not where attacks were being direc­ On the night of the 19th, a enemy lost 10.000 men. attack and awaited orders from render the services required, ted in order to break the ring chauffeur in the service of the This report was made in the High Command of the Divi­ the officers of the Brigade made made by the lltli Division. rebels, crossed over to our lines Teruel itself at 8 o’clock at sion, then at a place called a magnificent gesture: without There were moments when it and it was found that he was nig lit on the 21st day of De­ Muleton. waiting for the tanks to finish was feared that the fascists the brother of one of the chiefs cember. That day the 116th Brigade their work, they flung them­ would break our fines and reach of the 25th Division. As soon I he chiefs who have most did magnificent work, taking as he had seen his brother he distinguished themselves in all the positions which it had gave him important details re­ these operations are: Comman­ been ordered to occupy. These garding the rebel forces defend­ der Garcia Vivancos; Commis­ positions taken on the 15th, ser­ ing Teruel, which numbered sar Antonio Ejarque; Commis­ ved as starting point for the approximately 10.000 men. On sar of the 116th Division, final conquest of Teruel. The the following day, the biggest Econo; those of Division 117, battle was extremely hard battle took place on the road Barrios and Bretos and C ^* — fought and during all day the from Teruel to Cortes, in the and Carot of the 11th. All fight went on with the use main­ course of which, the 117th and militants of the CNT-FAI. Crtuoe L 11 ly of hand granades. The O %e*CR»C«£ 116th Brigade literally had to coMct/jTY % o dislodge the Fascists from their % I A Capitalist Newspaper ‘Sees trenches at the point of the bay­ onet. That same day, the other The Light’ Brigades belonging to the 25th A CUTTING from the TORONTO policies followed by those in power, Division, in company with other STAR, sent me by our Cana­ but they agree that to provoke in­ forces, attacked and took the dian comrades, proves that some ternal conflict at the present time, town of Concud, thus com­ Capitalist newspapers are begin­ whatever their motives, acually pletely surrounding and isolat­ ViLLei. ning to “see the light” as regards amounts to betrayal and serves the ing Teruel. On the 16th, a very the Anarchists in Spain. interests of international fas­ hea\y snow storm interrupted Under date of December 8th, the cism. But the libertarian move­ ment is free from all such stain.” the operations, but our forces Editor in referring to the Bulletin The heavy line shows the position to which the Spanish workers The comment of the Editor of held in spite of tbe bitter wea­ of the CNT-FAI, shows unusual had advanced when this report was written. The dotted line fairness. He also pays high tri­ the TORONTO STAR is that ther, all the positions so far oc­ indicates the point of the offensive. bute to our heroic comrade Cipri- though it is difficult to judge all cupied. During the first days ano Mera. Among other things, this from a distance, it is yet cer­ of the attack, the 116th Divi­ the Editor has discovered about the tain that “ the Spanish masses are forgetting their differences and are sion took a considerable num­ Anarchists, is that they “ feel that uniting to oppose the forces that ber of positions and ga\e shel­ governments interfere too much with the lives of the people” ... held them in bondage for centu­ ter to many civilian refugees. Mr. Attlee and the Spanish that these Anarchists “ include ries.” On the 17th, the 117th Brigade many sincere idealists” ... and that In other words, the man at the attacked the cemetery with the they think “ the common foe is helm of the TORONTO STAR, is aid of 20 tanks, and notwith­ Anarchists Franco’s fascism, and until that beginning to see the light. He standing that the tanks did not menace has been removed, they say does not seem to realise, however, The few times the “Daily Her­ order to elucidate them as to the all future friends of liberty shouldthat the CNT and the FAI are act with the precision required, ald’’ official organ of the Labour work being carried on by the stand together.” fighting Fascism, not because they the attack was carried out with Party, has mentioned the CNT- CNT-FAI. But nothing is ever The Editor quotes the Bulletin intend to exchange it for “demo­ great bravery, and all objectives FAI has it been in somewhat dis­ printed. Furthermore there exists of the CNT-AIT-FAI, as saying: cracy.” For well they know that were taken. On the 18th, tbe paraging terms. It is surprising a deplorable ignorance amongst the “ they still refer to the disastrous (continued on page 2, col. 1) 116th Brigade after a violent at­ therefore to read what Major editors and reporters as to the dif­ ferent organizations in Spain. One tack against the forces defend­ •Attlee, leader of the Labour oppo­ sition had to say when he was in­ newspaper which boasts that it has ing the cemetery, succeeded in terviewed by “ Castilla Libre ot the largest daily circulation in Gt. Political Persecution In Republican Spain occupying some of their de­ Valencia. Britain referred to “ Frente Rojo ” KATIALANDAU ARRESTED fences, which were found to be To the question “ Is the work the Communist Party controlled veritable fortresses constructed of the CNT known in England ” newspaper as being the “ organ of the Anarchists!” Barcelona, 17th December, 19S7. of concrete and stone. The he answered: “The CNT is known in my country. There is Major Attlee realizes that the QROM the CNT-FAI Bureau we learn that Katia Landau, wife of Kurt 118th Brigade which up to the some confusion as to the actu­ CNT is a great force and that its • Landau who was assassinated by the Communists, has been arrested 18lh had been kept in reserve, work in the struggle against Fasc­ ation of this popular force.