GRIM CONDITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 9

GRIM CONDITIONS

FATE OF PRISONERS THOUSANDS EXECUTED EXCESSES PERPETRATED [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Dec. 10 The terrible conditions prevalent in Madrid prisons, with their thousands of political prisoners, were discussed by the six British members of Parliament who recently visited that city in their report, issued this week. The party included Messrs. F. Seymour Cocks, W. P, Crawford Greene and D. IL Grenfell (Labour), WingCommander A. W. James (Conservative) and Mr. Wilfred Roberts (Liberal). The number of these prisoners since the outbreak of hostilities had grown to an extent hardly credible, states the report. There were supposed to be 1-1.000 in the official prisons, the majority of whom had been interned for six months without being tried or even charged. A reported decrease was due to a genuine transfer of prisoners from .Madrid to the provinces by the Government authorities, to many cases of people taken from one prison to another never arriving and never having been heard of since, and to prisoners being shot after leaving prison.

Numbers Seized and Slain "It lias also been stated that on many occasions parties of armed men have entered prisons, brushed aside the sentries and kidnapped internees, whoso bodies were frequently found later lying by the roadside with some such notice as "Traitor" or "Fascist" pinned to their breasts, continues the report. "It is stated by reliable people that between August 15 and the end of NoI vember thousands of persons have been done away with in this manner. "These occurrences, honestly admitted, were stated to be carried out solely by one section of the five which comprise the Popular Front, and it was said that the rank and file got out of hand and perpetrated the excesses in revenge for Fascist excesses "There was fierce resentment against the use of foreign aeroplanes and guns in the attack upon Madrid. Every home destroyed by Caproni and Junker bombing aeroplanes strengthened the determination to resist. The morale of the people was amazingly high, but it was clear that this attack, the burden of which, in effect, fell upon non-com-batants, was creating many new and very difficult problems. There was a great need for organised humanitarian effort. We concluded that tins can only be done fr-om outside." Foreign Troops Engaged in War "General Franco was supposed to have between 20.000 and 30,000 men before Madrid, of whom a large part were Moors. The Government could pit against this between 80,000 and 200,000, including a contingent of foreigners —French, Germans, Poles, Britons, Italians and many others who had come to fight—a few for a livelihood or for adventure, the great majority because they hated Fascism." 'l'lie visitors had no evidence of Russian troops fighting for the Government in any numbers, though it was alleged that there were Russian drivers for the tanks and Russian pilots for the aeroplanes which the Government had recently obtained. "It is generally believed," the report adds, "that Italians and Germans are fighting as aviators, tank corps men and artillerymen for General Franco. We talked with one prisoner of war, an Italian, who stated that he was a serving soldier in a Home artillery regiment, and that others were sent with him." Serious Issues From Intervention Discussing the future, the report says; "No Spaniard in Madrid believes that he is still witnessing a simple civil •war, bitt that a war is being fought on Spanish soil by foreigners for their own purposes. "Direct intervention by Italy and possibly by Germany 011 the ono hand and Russia on the other raises very serious issues. Everyone is asking what Britain would do in such circumstances." Discussing the general situation in Spain the visitors say that the Central Government, "in spite of the difficulties with which it is faced, seems gradually to be gaining in prestige and in authority." Use of Gas Shells by Rebels "The night before we left Madrid substantial evidence was shown us that the insurgents had used a small number of gas shells in an attack in the University City, from which 10 gas cases resulted," says the report. "Should gas be used, even if only in the fighting line, the effect upon the civilian population cannot fail to bo absolutely appalling. We therefore appealed immediately to the British Foreign Office to make a large supply of gas masks available for purchase by the Spanish Government. "Only one road remains open, from Madrid— namely, that to Valencia. The railway from Valencia as far as Alcazar, 75 miles from Madrid, is available. We think that about 2000 persons' a day can be evacuated by this

means. . , "13ut, as the problem is to deal with more than half-a-million people, the progress at this rate must be very slow An international effort should be made to assist in the civilian evacuation of Madrid. The military deadlock at the gates of Madrid may continue for a very considerable time, during which period the city may be ruthlessly reduced to rums." ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS 6000 REACH CADIZ LONDON. Jan. 1 fi,formation received in official tors confirms the arrival of about 6000 Italian volunteers at Cadiz on board the Lombardia (20,006 tons), which apparently is a transport.