AFTER THE WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23389, 4 July 1939, Page 9

AFTER THE WAR

CONDITIONS IN MADRID DEMAND FOR MOURNING HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS RECONSTRUCTION OF CITY LONDON, Juno OS Dyers in Madrid are busy dyeing clothes black to meet the demand for mourning, according to the Daily Telegraph's correspondent in that city. Most families are mourning relatives killed either fighting or among the 80,000 sympathisers whom General Franco had shot at Madrid for their political faith. The police arc steadily ridding the city of professional murderers and criminals, including many militiamen charged with shooting General Franco's followers in wartime. Hundreds of arrests are made every day. Twenty military Courts are functioning, some all day and all night. They have condemned dozens of proved assassins. Eventually big political trials are expected, including those of the moderate Socialist Julian Besteiro, who was Foreign Minister in the Casado Government which, overthrew Dr. Negrin's Cabinet.

The Government is reconstructing the city. It has voted £200,000 to recondition 50 streets and rebuild 1500 wrecked houses, in addition to which there is an unestiniated number partly destroyed by shellfiro and bombing. 'Die Government is also "purifying" the city of memories of Liberal and Republican leaders by demolishing their statues and re-naming streets. Tho city is well stocked with food and luxuries are appearing again. Bullfighting has been resumed.