Bill Scott writes from Madrid

Writing to his brother from Madrid on December 11, Comrade Scott who has been in the front line with the International Column almost from its inception, says that the City of Madrid is less safe than the actual trenches, owing to the cowardly savagery of the fascists in bombing an open town.

“For the last few days,” writes Scott, “the Fascists have been bombing and shelling the City. They have bombed hospitals and schools. I wouldn’t believe it only I have seen it with my own eyes. They have killed hundreds of children, nurses and wounded men. They have deliberately aimed at these hospitals and schools, for they are flying low at the time. Last week thirty planes took part in an air raid. They bombed a tenement house where thirty families lived. You can imagine what happened.

“Our planes bomb munitions factories and aerodromes, but in no case have they attempted to bomb the civil population in Fascist territory. On our side we are given strict orders not to ill-treat prisoners. We have often taken wounded Fascist prisoners to hospital.

“On the other side, prisoners are seldom taken at all. They don’t even shoot them. They kill them with bayonets. That is what they call Christianity. Even while I write this letter, they are shelling the district.”