2
under these frightful conditions, 
when we arrived at Bilboa, there 
being taken to a large University 
building where the sanitary conditions 
were even worse than at Ijar. We 
remained at Bilbao until April 10th 
when we were again loaded into box 
cars and removed to San Pedro De
Cardenãs[?] about 14 kilometres out of
Burgos, the seat of the Franco Government.
We were housed here in a convent 
built in the year 1739, capable of 
accommodating approximately 2000 men 
but at times there were well over 
5000 there, On our arrival here we 
were thoroughly searched and everything 
we had which might add to our 
bare comforts were taken from us
along with any money or valuables 
such as rings, watches, razors etc.
We were not given any mattresses 
and so were forced to lay on the 
floors as the majority of which were 
concrete and at this time of the