Fliers Fully Paid, Spain's Agent Says.
Declares Terms of Contracts Were Met and No Money is Now Due Them.
Denial By Their Lawyer He Asserts Acosta, Schneider and Berry Got Some Funds on Friday, but Not Enough.
While there were no developments yesterday in the United States Attorney's investigation of the procurement of Americans for service in Spain, the acting consul general for Spain and the attorney for American aviators who served the Loyalist cause issued conflicting statements regarding the pay they received. The consul general, Luis Careaga said: "The Spanish consulate general in New York feels impelled to acquaint the American public, so as to protect the good name of Spain and the government of the republic, that if contracts were entered into with a few American aviators in Spain all the clauses therein have been fulfilled with them, as per arrangements contained in the said clauses and, therefor, absolutely no moneys are due to the said aviators." "Spain is a nation that has always fulfilled her contracts, for it will be remembered that she is one of the few countries who has no pending debts with the United States." In behalf of Bert Acosta, Gorden Berry and Edward Schneider, who have been questioned under subpoena by John F. Dailey, Acting Chief Assistant United States Attorney, their attorney. Lewis M. Landes, said the fliers had received some money at the consulate Friday afternoon, but that it was not sufficient. Mr. Landes declined to reveal what the sums were adding "I have sent a communication to the Spanish consul general saying that unless the entire sum is paid in full I shall institute further legal action toward collecting it." Acosta and Berry are owed $1,500 each and Schneider $1,250 under their contract the lawyer says.
Source: New York Times; January 17, 1937; page 30
Hired Soldiers. The American flying circus on the Spanish front is through. Led by Bert Acosta and Eddie Schneider, the American aviators who have been serving the Spanish government in the Pyrenees want their pay. They have $1,100 coming. Schneider complains that "we were given nothing but unarmed sports planes ..." It is fortunate for these gallant Americans that they can quit at their own pleasure without being declared deserters and lined up against a stone wall. But whatever their status and whatever their fate, the government of the United States should waste no time on them.
