PERILOUS PLIGHT OF MADRID

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20668, 5 March 1937, Page 9

PERILOUS PLIGHT OF MADRID

MENACE OF FOOD SHORTAGE REPORTED OUTBREAK OF RIOTS SUCCESS OF LOYALIST FORCES United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 4, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. Bread is being rationed in Madrid. Purchases are being restricted to ten ounces dally per person. The grave plight of Madrid, which is indicated by the bread rationing, is emphasised by the correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph”, in an uncensored dispatch from Valencia, after visiting the capital. “The food, position,” says the correspondent, “is tragic. I saw two serious riots, both caused owing to the bread shops selling out after 250 persons had waited eight hours. Food is so pitifully scant that Madrid is bound to collapse, from hunger if the insurgents surround it.” It is claimed that the Government forces crossed the Tagus and after fierce fighting entered Toledo, seized the district near the Alcazar, also that other Government forces have surrounded Oviedo and Talavera. German Sympathy With Rebels A Salamanca message says that General Faupel, German Ambassador, presenting his credentials to General Franco, said: “Herr Hitler follows General Franco’s liberating struggle with warm sympathy.” MEDIATION IN SPAIN NO REQUEST TO BRITAIN British Official Wireless RUGBY, March 3. In reply to a question in the House of Commons, the British Foreign Minister (Mr Anthony-Eden), said that up to the present the British Government had received no indication that either contending party in Spain was prepared to consider mediation of any nature. ITALO-GERMAN BETRAYAL LITTLE HOPE OF CONTROL IN SPAIN Onlted Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 5 12.15 a.m.) PARIS, March 4. Messages from London state that Italy and Germany are creating numerous difficulties at the meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee and there is some suggestion that international control of Spain may not be enforced on March 6 as agreed. M. Blum’s newspaper “Populaire” warns the Fascist Powers that if they persist in their obstruction, France will be obliged to regain freedom of action in Spain.