Uproar In Madrid

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 244, 17 November 1930, Page 8

Uproar In Madrid

P0LICE USE FIREARMS Funera! Procession Fired On GENERAL STRIKE CALLED.

Uoited Press Assn Eleotric Cable. Copyrlgbt

MADRID, Nov. 15. There was an amazing sequel to the death of four labourers through the collapse of a liouse, allegedly due to i'aulty coustruction and material. All building trade workers struck to attend the funeral, and formed, with otliers, a procession of 50,000 people. Poliee barred tlie way through tlie central streets, and, during confusion due to an attempt 011 the part of the crowd to force progress, the police fired a volley of bullets, wliich whistled past the wreath-crowned coffin. The crowd fled, leaving the cortege until order was restored, when the funeral proceeded. Four were killed and 49 wounded, including three neivspapermen. A TENSE SITUATION. A tense situation developed following the declaration of a lightning general strike as a protest against the police firiug on the crowd. Forty tliousand workers downed tools, the strikers taking drastic action against workers refusing to obey the strike order. . They tore up flagstones and heaped them on the tram lmes. Taxi-cabs disappeared and most of tlie_ shops closed. Those remainiiig open, including big departmental stores, had their windows smashed. The strikers overturned stalls in the market place, molested and friglitened children going to scliool and nearly stripped ratlier eceentrically dressed women students. Midinettes enjoyed parading the streets, adding to the confusion. MOB ATTACKS CARS. Matters became uglier in the afternoon, when police proteeting peaceful citize'ns frequently came into conflict with strikers who attacked private motor cars. Doctors were only able to travel by affixing a red cross to their radiators. . Troops guarcjed mail vans- Electricity water and gas employees came out for 24 hours. To-morrow theatres, cafes and cinemas will be closed and_ newspapers are not expected to publish. It is generally felt tliat tlie situation is full of unpleasant possibilities, as tlie calling of the strike was without notice, and tantamount to a revolntionary move.