Anotner sign of the growing determination of sections of the ranks in the Portuguese army to continue the revolutionary process came last week with a mass demonstration through the streets of the northern city of Porto.
Fifteen hundred soldiers - the equivalent of a regiment - marched in uniform behind a red banner carrying the slogan 'Soldiers United Will Win'. Following them were an estimated 10,000 civilians, representing notably the workers' and neighbourhood commisThe main organisers of the demonstration were the Movement of the Socialist Left (MES) and the Internationalist Communist League (LCI - Portuguese sympathising section of the Fourth International). The Communist Party also took part, although it failed to issue any public appeals for support. as far away as Coimbra and Tancos, and there was even a small delegation from the light artillery regiment of Lisbon (RALIS) - the famous 'red regiment'.
The soldiers marched through the city surrounded by stewards from the workers' and neighbourhood commissions. precaution to prevent unnecessary identification, a flying squad led by a young lieutenant constantly intercepted photographers to make sure tnat only pictures of the banner at the head of the demonstration were taken. RE