LITHUANIAN REBELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 154, 1 July 1936, Page 9

LITHUANIAN REBELS.

FOUR FARMERS EXECUTED. PRO-NAZI ACTIVITIES. KAUNAS (Lithuania). Four farmers, one of whom was caught smuco-lins? inflammatory proclamations into D °Lithuania from Germany, were executed after a secret court-martial. They were charged with plotting to overthrow the Government. Ei«*ht other farmers were sentenced to life imprisonment on the same charge. Details of Trial Secret. The details of the trial were not made public and there is little likelihood they ever will be, for the proceedings were guarded in strict military fashion. The specific allegations against the farmers were threefold: , 1 Printing proclamations of a neighbouring State" (Germany' urging farmers to discontinue the payment of taxes and to overthrow the Government and distributing these proclamations in three southern districts. . . 2. Distributing leaflets warning local authorities, under pain of death, to cease carrying out their official duties. 3. Committing a number of undisclosed "terroristic acts." Fear Nazi Aggression. Lithuania long has been the centre of agitation for and against union with Germany. Political difference! are drawn mainly "along Nazi and-non-Nazi hues During 1935 Lithuanian Government officials expressed fear that Reichsfuehrer Hitler might violate the sovereignty of Lithuania. Hitler at "the time himself sa'id the fear was unfounded.