DISTURBANCES IN SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21715, 24 February 1936, Page 11

DISTURBANCES IN SPAIN

POLITICAL PRISONERS LIBERATED s MARTIAL LAW IN SOME TOWNS MADRID, February 21. Martial law has been declared at Murcia, Alicante, and Valencia. Minor disturbances continue throughout Spain and on the French frontier, where communists, -including large numbers of women, occupied the railway station at Irun and compelled the police to search Spaniards going to France. Women entered first-class carriages and shouted to the police: "Search that woman; that one, too!"

The police, anxious to avoid incidents, obeyed. The search was to prevent people from taking jewellery valued at more than £ 140 from the country. Confiscation of estates restored to grandees since the declaration of the Republic will be the main plank of Senor Azana's programme. Capitalists are expected to be hit by the State control of certain private banks and businesses. Other points include a national minimum wage for peasants, the dismissal of Government employees suspected of disloyalty, and possible home rule for Catalonia, which should greatly ease the tension.

An amnesty has been approved, to become effective on February 24, freeing 30,000 political and other prisoners, many of whom were released in anticipation, leading to disturbances and acts of vengeance in various districts.

Nineteen have been kiiled, 94 wounded, and 10 churches set on fire, two being destroyed. The offices of many conservative newspapers have been wrecked. Since the first election returns were published there has been a general strike at Malaga.