Evening star., 1929-07-02
SPANISH AWATORS
REACH GIBRALTAR
Maj. Franco and Companions
Given Warm Welcome
at English Fort.

It was understood that the Spanish
Government intends to award decora-
tions to Capt. Laurence and to Lieut..
r. A. Kilroy Of the No 400 flight,
who first sighted the missing men.
Used Last Rockets.
Only with the arrival Of the men
was 1t learned by how slim q margin
they had been snatched from the sea.
for they had used up the last of their
signal rockets when the welcome lights
of the Eagle came into view. Then
ed to learn If they had been seen, and
finally came the huge aircraft mother
ship" to pick them UP.
When the Eagle slipped into the
harbor every narrow street of this pic
tropical suits, British sailors, soldiers and
IN the sides Of the great granite rock
juttins out toward Africa from the
southern extremity OF Spain, was jam
med with British civilian residents in
tropical suits. British sailors, soldiers and
marines, with here and there Moors
from Africa in white turbans and long
robes, while others wore fezes and flow
ing crimson cloaks British Boobies,
reinforced by military police, lined the
streets and the water front in an effort
to keep trafhc orderly.
The water front was packed with
rreat granite rock Of Gibraltar, where
roads are cut into the mountainlike
terraces. were lined observers. Palm
trees lifted tufted fronds against
brilliant blue sky as the blazing tropic
sun increased in intensity, Finally
the Eagle came into the hArbor one
Of the worlds greatest naval bases,
where Spain and England In past Gen.
turtles had fought for long bitter years,
Afft q
were entwined everywhere today.
Planes Circle Eagle.
Several Spanish planes from Morocco
and British machines based a. Gibral-
tar circlcd the harbor and scared over
the Eagle and It's passengers.
Two launches loaded with about 100
reporters and photographers fought to
reach the Eagle and 1t became almost q
personal struggle to reach the airmen.
Shortage Of water, cold, rough seas
and bitter sense Of being at the mercy
of the waves we're the chief memories
Of Mai. Ramon Franco and his COM
panions.
ASK anything you want" said Mai.
Franco to the correspondent Of the
Associated Press who talked with him.
The major was dressed In khaki. The
suit had been given to him by one OF
the members OF the Eagles crew.
Out of gas and, much to their sur
prise, beyond the. Azores. the airnnen
were compelled to alight on the sea.
The landing was made perfectly on
q quiet sea-" said Mat. Franco. MY
watch showed in the morning. At
first we did not know where we were,
although we presumed that We could
not be far from the Azores. Then the
sea became rough and strong winds
a,.nhAA 4hM A1avaA fpaVa ma aiAA ~ fhA
other. We saw no vessel. We felt
slightly. Naturally we were much dis.
appointed. Thinking that we would
soon see boat. we settled ourselves
and arranged to stand guard.
Feared for Plane.
I'VE were not worried about eating,
since ne had food for 10 days. The
first night we did not sleep, although
ct dawn I had little nap In the
commanding cabin. On the morning Of
the 23d the sea was rough and we feared
for the plane. We even thought OF dis
mounting the wings TO void being ship
wrecked. However, thanks to God, this
was not necessary.
I'VE began then TO feel thirsty, but
soon decided to drink the water stored
all There is some left yet. You may
taste 1t II you want.
: "The following night was rather bad.
It was cold and We had to put on
our fur overcoats. The sea was rough
and the plane was being buffeted by
the waves. One Of them dented the
left. wing and the man on watch be-
came wet. we were then beginning 70
feel somewhat uneasy and nobody slept.
I'VE spent the night In the best
manner we could. Toward morning the
sea became calmer and We were able
to rest a little. We did not eat much.
We were hoping and hoping to see
some ships. On the gath we began
to. light rockets, but our signals were
sent up to no avail. Doubts began as
sailing us. because the realisation
mercy of the waves. Yet. even though
we were outside the regular steamer
lanes, we did not lose hope altogether.
Thought Of Families.
when topics of conversation became
exhausted during our moments of leis-
ure. when we were not on watch. we
began to wonder what our families were
thinking in Spain. During the day the
We are tanned, but can assure you
that we did not suffer from hunger.
Food and the water we got from the
radiator to make up for our shortage Of
regular drinking water were sufdcient.
I'VE spent our time scanning the
horizon. There was one moment when
we almost despaired Of ever being saved.
We shall always remember the night OF
the 9th, which was terrible. The sea
We also saw the right wing being broken
up. Further. the rudder was being af-
fected by the constant beating Of the
waves. The situation was almost des-
perate. AS the plane was being tossed
about we closed ell openings in order to
keep the water from flooding us. The
plane was toy Of the sea and we
very long. AS our anxiety increased we
lighted bengal lights, which were put
out by the water.
"On the morning Of June 20 the sea
became calmer, but we did not know
where we we're even though we had the
sun to guide US. Every spot on the sea
seemed TO us like boat. But nothing
comparatively we'll. Our spirits were
low, but we never gave Up hope.
Early on the morning Of the 29th
Mai. Gallarza was on watch. Suddenly,
with Joy in his voice, he shouted that
he thought he had seen lights. Then
We all came out and sent UP rockets.
We spent an hour sending these
TOCkSb. ABOUT q CLOCK We JIlOuR1L
we heard the noise of engines, but as 1t
was still dark we could not see any
thing. At 5 o'clock we saw smoke and
then soon after this enormous ship, the,
Eagle. You can easily understand how
great was our Joy.
1T took an hour for us 10 get on
board the Eagle. First Of all. we thank
ed the commander and then we sent
radios to our families. The rest Of the
story you already know"
How he chung to forlorn hope and
falinw,aA faYnfa ofie Hrhf elan -. nAae