comparatively safe. But, in an offensive, as at Brunete and in Aragon, lines have to be laid under fire, and the cablemen who must keep Head- quarters and the infantry in continuous communication cannot afford time to take cover. Throughout the battle telephones have to be alter- ed, lines broken by shell—fire and aerial bombardment must be repair- ed, and the repairs carried out immediately, no matter how heavy the enemy’s fire.

The Transmissions Department of the XV Brigade does its work ef- ficiently even though it often has to pay in blood for every line it lays.

The Anti - Tank Battery

Hugh Slater, present Commander of the British Anti-Tank Battery, was wielding a pen in Spain, on behalf of the International Press Corre- spondence, and in the course of his duties was spending most of his time at the front. Realising that the shelling, bombing and sniping to which he was subjected was too one—sided, and not liking the idea of defending his life witl1 ink merely, Slater decided to take a hand in the game. The Anti-Tank Battery, then being formed, was his choice; he became its Political Commissar, and went to Jarama and thence to Brunete with the Battery Commander, Malcolm Dunbar. When Dunbar was wound- ed Slater became Commander, and Bill Alexander ——- since “stolen” as Adjutant to the British Battalion —became Commissar.

Slater began where Dunbar had to leave off, and Alexander continu- ed Slater’s good Work, and both were working with as good a crowd as anyone would like to meet~that is how the leaders explain why the Anti-Tank Battery, in action or out of it, is the pride of the XV Brigade.

The Wall—newspaper, “Assault and Battery News” is of such a high standard that whe11 one of its issues was produced on a roadside where the Battery was in action, in Aragon, men from other units dodged sni- pers to read its virile (if occasionally unprintable) contents. Its Editor, Miles Tomalin, in the intervals of laying a gun, enlivens things with his recorda and impossible sing—songs.

Jeff Mildwater was Battery Second—in-Command when a bullet shat- tered his knee-cap at Fuentes de Ebro. Otto Estensen (who with Bill Alexander, Proctor and Saturnina was cited for bravery at Belchite) takes his place.

The XV Brigade Anti-Tank Battery is a happy team of British and Spanish comrades——with just a sprinkling of Americans, Canadians and Irishmen, to preserve the international feeling! In battle or out of it they represent in miniature the People’s Army at its best, good mi- litary leaders, good political guidance, good soldiers, and good comrades.

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