INDIGNATION IN RUMANIA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 15 June 1936, Page 11

INDIGNATION IN RUMANIA

Grandstand Tragedy ATTEMPTED SUPPRESSION OF FACTS (UKXTED PRI33 ASSOCIATION—COPTEIGHT.) (Received June 14, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 13. The Bucharest correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that the indignation 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 were killed besides 93 others with broken backs and 380 with amputated legs and arms.

Th£ public has known the terrible results of the disaster from the beginning, but the newspapers were only allowed to print 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 asserted, was caused by criminal negligence in poor work and the use of defective material. Many of those killed belonged to distinguished families. One paper says; “This happened because the King is surrounded by liars and robbers.” Another says: “Rumania is a land without responsible government, but nobody expects any member of the Government to bo punished, and since the grandstand builders were Jews they will probably be made the scapegoats.”

LA 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 thunderclap 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 architects of the stand. A judicial enquiry was begun.]