COMMITTEE’S REPORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 15

COMMITTEE’S REPORT

SHORTAGE OF FUEL .AND FOOD (British Official Wireless) (Received 19th December, 2.0 p.m.) RUGBY, 18th December. A long report on the situation in Madrid by six members of the House of Commons who l«Tt London last month to inquire into the situation at Madrid reviews the conditions of the civilian population, prisoners, sick and wounded, and inmates of hospitals

The report states that by December between one third and one quarter of the houses in Madrid were estimated to have been destroyed. Bombardment, both from the air, and by shell fire, has been most intense in the crowded working class districts. Incendiary bombs were used about the middle of November, and some heavy bombs of 200 kilos, which completely demolished whole blocks of buildings were used, and there was good evidence that the insurgents used a small number of gasshells in the University City. Should gas be used, even if only in the fighting line, the effect upon the civilian population cannot fail to be absolutely appalling. They appealed to the British Foreign Office to make a large supply of gas masks available for purchase by the Spanish Government. There is a serious shortage of food. Fuel and meat are unobtainable. Foods for infants and young children, which is specially needed under the circumstances, is exceedingly scarce.