The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-28

anarchist elements while they face
the common enemy-fascism. Some
individuals may try to play their
own game. But leaders will hold TO-
gether, and that means the people
cap not lose.
Rebels Have Failed
1.-THE rebels have tried hard to get
into Madrid for 20 days. They really
tried hard al Those 20. days. They
really tried everything they had.
They have failed.
II can not say what Hitler and
Mussolini are planning to do. ]
believe I know this much: The
rebels unaided by German troops
or Italian troops will not enter
Madrid. If they enter 1t they can
not hold 1t. If they hold 1t they
will lose 1t in the end"
An officer in Kleber's headquar-
tiers, former German newspaper
man, showed the general gas mask,
taken from q Moor. The general
looked at 1t vaguely.
"Do you think they will use gas?"
7 asked him.
They will resort to anything
when they get desperate" Kleber
replied calmly. And think they
are desperate now"
Have you supply Of gas masks?'
I asked.
Seeks U. s. Help
well that is one thing the United
States could send If 1t wanted to
help u.s." he replied. 1T is purely
a defensive, article. Gas masks
would save thousands Of lives"
AS Kleber talked, there were in
dications that the nationalists, after
days Of comparative inactivity
were starting the first phase Of their
new attack.
They began artillery fire at II o.
clock last night, and the first bom-
bardment, lasting intermittentely
for four hours, caused several small
fires in the outskirts. Fire engines
we're dashing about this morning to
put them out. The loyalist artillery
returned the fire.
Gen. Kleber told today Of the COL
orful career which has brought him
to Madrid.
He corrected previously accepted
reports that he fought in the Can
adian army during the World war
and that he was Of French German
ancestry.
Born In Austria
He was born in Austria 40 years
ago. Educated in Austria and Ger
many, he was studying medicine in
Vienna when the World war broke
out. At IS, he joined the Hungarian
infantry. He served mainly on the
Russian front for three years, be-
came company commander and
was wounded several times. He won
lie silver cross for bravery in ac-
ton.
After the war, Kleber visited Can
ada and the United Estates, includ-
ing New York, Washington and
Chicago.
He next turned up with the Am
erican expeditionary force In far
eastern Siberia. Then he Joined the
Russian revolutionary forces In the
Vladivostock region as private. He
became a battalion commander,
then a brigade commander with g.
900 guerrillas under him.
He fought with the Russian army
from 1919 until 1921.
In 1928 Kleber returned to Can
ada and becames naturalized. He
worked In Toronto and was engaged
for five or six years in communist
party propaganda work.
Helped Chinese
The Chinese communist party in
voted Kleber to 60 to China and he
stayed there three years, operating
against the Japanese and attaining
the rank of general. Then he re-
turned to Europe and the
United States, continuing COM
munist propaganda work, and arrived
In Spain in September. Here he
Joined the international column
which was being forced. Now he
is commander Of the two interna-
tional columns In Madrid and Is
commander in chief on the hot
North Madrid front.
He was found at his field head
quarters close behind his artillery.
Kleber Is S.: feet tall. square built,
with fine liquid brown eyes and
iron gray hair brushed straight
back. He had laid aside his gray
lumber Jacket and wore a gray pull
over sweater and khaki whipcord
riding breeches with blue cloth put
tees. He Is emilio" only by cour-
tesy TO Spain, the fourth great
country for which he has fought.
He was christened Emil.
Kleber speaks excellent English,
German and Russian but only a
smattering Of Spanish. His manner
Is reserved and courteous at all
time. He Is worshipped by his men
and he radiates an atmosphere Of
confidence from his excellently Or
ganized field headquarters.
Britain Speeds Up
London. November 20. - tuP) -
Great Britain speeded up her ae-
tense against war today by estan-
fishing = new food control and rush.
Ing gas mask production.
Walter Runclman. president OF
the Board OF Trade, ordered the
creation OF q food defense plans 90
nartment which will work IN cooper
alton with Dir Thomas fnaklp, min
later OF Coordination OF Defense
Thla department will coordinate
plans for ihs supply ". son.so' n M