The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-29
BY REYNOLDS PACKARD United Press Staff COrrespOndent


 Bilbao, June 29-(UP)-My great- est scare of the entire Spanish civil war occurred recently while Gen. Francisco Franco's troops were occupying the town of Las Arenas a few days before the capture of Bilbao.
 Las Arenas is normally a suburs ban summer resort, on the Nervion River about five miles northeast ot Bilbao. The Loyalist forces had ev~ acuated the town about two hours ahead of the Nationalist advance, but behind them they had left few Suicide" snipers-desperate, hard- living men who knew that by re- maining they were doomed to die.
 entered the las Arenas with an advance patrol of Franco's forces. We started marching down an ave- nue lined with poplars, leading to. word the beach. It was like a parade until invisible bees suddenly began buzzing around my head. Didn't Need Orders At the first sound of firing the captain ordered the troops to scatter and lie down. I didn't need any orders. I flopped down behind the first shelter I saw-a fat pig which was sleeping against a tree. Bullets continued to buzz through the air from at least three directions. had never thought I'd embrace a pig with such affection until the moment when death was singing past my ears.
 But must have snuggled too closely for the pigs comfort, be- cause suddenly it reared up. grunt- ed, and started to waddle away. I grabbed at the pigs tail, caught it, and held on as tight as I could. For a moment I thought was still comparatively safe, but an instant later the tail slipped ont of my hands and my only barricade against the shippers went squealing away.
 Felt Sick, Stupid felt sick and stupid, being caught in such an exposed position. It wouldn't be so bad, reasoned, to be winged in 8 real hand to hand battle, but just to be the tar get for mad snipers in a town which already was won-Well, there Wasn even news in 1t for me.
 Bullets were still whining past at the rate of five or six minute. could hear the nasty swish of each one as I lay behind the tree, but 1t wasn't much of a tree and looked around for other cover.
 There were palatial villas along each side of the avenue. I wanted to get up and run into one of them, but I was afraid a sniper might nip me as I entered the garden. The snipers were having one last fling at mad living by trying to kill I all they could, and 1t wouldn't matter to them that was a news paperman.
 While I lay there the troops be- hind me started shooting at the ab- andoned villas. That only made the situation worse for me. The bullets from Franco's soldiers Whistled harmlessly over my head, but the return fire of the snipers increased to the rate of about 20 shots min- ute.
 DOg SnleIu 1nat r1ucu Suddenly I saw a mangy dog anl- bling down the greenSward of the avenue. Quickly I pulled out my lunch to tempt him to come closer I so I could shield my head behind his fleebitten body.
 felt guilty for wanting to use somebody's forlorn pet for a sand bag, but I was so frightened that the feeling of shame soon passed away.
 Waving my lunch, I managed to attract the dogs attention. He saw or smelled the food and started coming toward me, but before he reached le a built skinned his back. Instantly he turned and ran the other way, yelping while blood trickled down his side.
 A moment later a soldier near me got a bullet in the arm. While watched him calmly slit the sleeve of his shirt with knife and tie 3 handkerchief about the wound l wondered if I would be next. Then six soldiers were detailed to enter the villas systematically one after the other and mop up the snipers. quickly the six moved away, four of them carrying revolvers in their hands while the other two cradled submachine guns in their arms.
 Killing Off Snipers
 Into the first villa they dashed, only to come ont a few minutes later without firing shot. After they moved into the second villa zslzIs@@s