FURY IN RUMANIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 207, 15 June 1936, Page 5

FURY IN RUMANIA.

GRANDSTAND DISASTER DEATHS. SUPPRESSION OF THE FACTS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, June 13. The Bucharest correspondent of the “News-Chronicle” says that the, in—dignation caused by the collapse _of the grandstand has risen to a fury: which is beating about the Throne itself. Relatives have already been officially informed of the deaths of 368 persons, but it is positively known that no fewer than 420 persons were killed, besides 93 others with broken packs and 380 with amputated legs and arms. The public has known the terrible results of the disaster from the beginning, but the newspapers were allowed to print only an official communique, stating that only three were killed. The suppression of facts is interpreted as an attempt to shield those responsible for the catastrophe which, it is assert—ed, was caused by criminal negligence in poor work and the use of defective material.

Many of those killed belonged to dis—tinguished families. One paper says: “This happened be—cause the King is surrounded by liars and robbers.” Another says: “1111» mania is a. land without responsible Government, but nobody expects any member of the Government to be punished, and since the grandstand build:— ers were Jews, they will probably be made the seapegoats.”

A message from Bucharest on June 8 stated: Thirty were killed and 600 injured in the collapse of a, grandstand While King Carol and the President of Czechoslovakia (Dr. E. Benes) were reviewing Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. A noise like a thunderclop signalised the collapse, the demolished stand! becoming a mass of struggling people piled high on top of one another. Several arrests were made, including the city’s building commissioner and the ardhitects of the stand. A judicial inquiry was begun.