The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-29
Quit English Teaching
Job; Heads Battalion
Relief Group; Describes
Battle; Here On Visit

Fighting for his belief that
America would be drawn into a
World War if LoYalist Spain fell
10 the Fascist groups. David Nc
KelveY White left his English
teaching job in Brooklyn College
and fought with the LoYalists in
Spain during 1887. Mr.. While is
a guest at local hotel.
He came back to this country
because Il wasn't the worlds best
machine gunner and because it
was thought l might do more good
for the battalion in this coun-
try. Mr.. White is chairman of
the Friends of the Abraham Lin
coin Battalion organ ton,
which aided the battalion by
sending over cigarettes and choc-
olate. His father is George
White, ex-governor of Ohio, who
was one of the presidential can
didates in the Democratic con-
vention of 1885, in which Roose-
welt was elected.
America To Be Drawn Into War
Il believe America will be
drawn into a World War in a
year., Mr.. White said, discussing
the fall of Madrid yesterday.
Hitler and Mussolini have gotten
away with so mu<h territory that
now they will not be daunted by
threats of the Allies when they
wish other territory. They will
require more definite proof. And
that's where the war will start.
Spain is very bitter against
Chamberlain for his non-inter-
vention committee. 1t is doubt
ful if the country will aid France
in the coming war.
The Loyalist government was
not a Communistic government
Communists numbered but 325,
900 with the Loyalist government
composed of many elements.
White Joins The Army
White went first to Paris, there
contacted a Spanish Committee
and with group of about so TAX
en- through southern France
quietly and at night Then over
the Pyrenees, highest mountains
in the world, and into Spain.
Once on the other side enroll
ment in the Spanish army was
rapid.
One of Mr.. Whites most vivid
experiences was during the 10y
alist offensive south of Madrid in
the Bruneti area. A finger OF
Rebel towns projected toward
Madrid and the offensive was de-
signed to wipe 1T out by cutting
1t off at its base by the capture
of high. commanding hill, The
offensive failed TO capture the
hill because progress to that
point was not as fast as estimated
and Franco rushed airplanes and
artillery to the hill to fortify it.
Describes Capture Of Town
Capture of one town along the
way was graphically described
by MIR. White. The town was
situated on a hill and before il
were reinforced concrete machine
gun pits and two lines of barbed
wire. The English and Spanish
battalions had gone around to the
rear of the town and taken q
strategic hill nearby From the
front the American battalion and
Spanish tanks and artillery were
peppering a church tower with
snipers nest and wiping out the
thachine gun pits. The Loyalist
machine gunners have just reach
ed a hill and were firing at the
Rebel trenches to keep head:
down low while their own troops
came into position. Finally, aft
er the town had been pretty bad
y smashed up from all direction
and realizing their supplies had
been cut off, the town surrender
ed. However, the American bat
TALON, which was supposed to be
fresh battalion to be used in
a. later offensive, had to be used
to capture the town. As a con-
sequence they were too tired to
do much fighting when the real
battle came up.
4 EXCETIENT OWED