852.00/3692
The Spanish Embassy to the Department of State
The Embassy of Spain at Washington presents its compliments to the Department of State, and by order of the Spanish Government transcribes to it the following telegraphic information received of even date, for which it requests the greatest attention:
“Decisive deposition relating to an Italian soldier arrested four days ago on the Madrid front near Parla. Said soldier’s name is Luigi Corsi Siliberta and he is a native of Villa Costelli, Province of Brindisi: it is not a case of a man having come voluntarily to fight Spain, since, according to the statement made by him he was brought here forcibly. Luigi Corsi belongs to the 10th Army Corps, Artillery at Rome; he joined his regiment April 19 and according to the provisions of the law he must remain in its ranks 18 months, that is to say, that Luigi Corsi must serve in the Italian Army until October 10, 1937. According to the statement signed by him, his coming and that of his companions was ordered by Knight Commander (Comendador) Luigi who commands the Italian 10th Artillery Corps who harangued them at Rome, choosing for the expedition 50 soldiers, no one of whom volunteered. The day of their departure each one of them was given 200 lire, and on arriving at Cáceres Lieutenant Ravello, who commands them, gave them 200 pesetas. The 50 Italian artillerymen embarked at Genoa and with them the said Lieutenant Ravello, and two more lieutenants landed at Vigo. The vessel also brought 15 cannon and 50 boxes of ammunition each one of ten charges of 65/17. They were transported from Vigo through Salamanca, Cáceres, Talavera and Tornjos to Toledo as it was possible to verify from the notebook the prisoner carried on his person. At Cáceres he was able to see 15 tanks, all Italian, and driven by Italian soldiers. The prisoner asserted that on the line at Illescas were the six cannon in the service of which he was engaged in preparing the emplacement for the guns. Each one of the latter, Luigi Corsi continues saying, was in command of an Italian officer, and there were also loaders, gunners and assistants of the same nationality. The vessel which carried them from Genoa to Vigo was Italian and likewise [Page 552] the captain and all her officers and crew belonged to the Italian navy. Luigi Corsi on arriving in Spain was promoted to sergeant (brigada) by his chiefs.”