Rumania Fights Axis; Marseilles Liberated

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 282, 25 August 1944, Page 5

Rumania Fights Axis; Marseilles Liberated

TO OPPOSE REICH AND HUNGARY

New Regime Formed

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) ((Received August 24, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 24. The Rumanian radio yesterday announced a proclamation by King Michael accepting the peace terms offered by Russia. This announcement, which came after another day of sweeping advances by Russian armies toward the Danube delta, said that a new national G ° v yjJ meat waS being formed and Rumania was to become an ally of the United Mat ons. The broadcast declared that Rumania’s armed forces were to fight on the Allied si e from now on. The Rumanian Army would cross the frontiers unjustly imposed by Hitler in the Vienna award of 1940, under which Rumania ceded Transylvania to Hungary. Clashes between German and Rumanian troops on various sectors were reported in

last night’s Red Army communique.. The Swiss radio announced that General Antonescu has fle to Germany. . , Dispatches from Bucharest state that Rumanian troops started to march into Transylvania last night. Rumania’s step will have serious consequences for the German Eighth Army between the Prut and Siret rivers, which is completely isolated, and for the German Sixth Army, whose right flank is now left unprotected. . , In Moscow and the other Allied capitals there has been no official statement on the developments. The Hungarian Government declares it has taken the necessary measures to meet the situation. Though Berlin is silent about the events, a German source says that a new Rumanian Government has been set up o carry on the war at Germany’s side.

The British United Press correspondent at Cairo says that accordins to reliable information the Sofia radio station has been off the air for some hours. Something important is. believed to bo happening in the Bulgarian capital. The radio silence may indicate that Bulgaria has decided to, follow Rumania, and the Germans, getting wind of this, seized the radio. The Slovak radio announced that the Slovak puppet Government made important decisions at a meeting yesterday at which urgent problems were discussed. New Rumanian Regime. Marshal Antonescu’s dictatorship in Rumania has been replaced by a “democratic regime” headed by. a non-party general, Senatiscu, as Prime Minister, and also the -Peasant Party leader, M. Maniu, and the Liberal leader, M. Bratianu. , King Michael’s new Government has decreed the opening of all concentration camps 'n Rumania. The military commander in Bucharest has ordered a curfew in the capital. Some Consequences. Reuter’s military correspondent says: “Rumania’s defection will create these further problems for the German high command: — “First, Malinovsky’s Second Ukrainian and Tolbukhin’s Third Ukrainian armies, entailing 30 to 40 divisions, are freed for another theatre. “Secondly, the German army, group guarding the Galatz gap is now in the midst of hostile country with uncertain communications to the rear. “Thirdly, the road to Bulgaria, east Yuvoslavia and Hungary is opened. “Fourthly, the Danube route to central Europe is opened. “Fifthly, the Germans are deprived of the Ploesti oilwells, which have been their greatest natural supply.” Moscow radio says that shooting between withdrawing Rumanian forces and German troops has broken out at several points. “Rumania, after being in the war for two years and eight months, has apparently already signed an armistice and the Rumanian Army, is ready to turn against the Germans in active collaboration with the advancing Russians.” states Reuter's Continental observer. “The fact that General Konstantin Senatiscu, has been named Premier, indicates that court circles have thrown in their lot with the Opposition, because he is a former aide de camp to Michael Bratianu, the new Cabinet member, and was a signatory to a previous memorandum submitted to Michael condemning Rumania's pro-Ger-man policy. Maniu was once Premier of Rumania. Dictatorship Cast Aside. Bucharest radio broadcast the following declaration by the New Rumanian Government: “The Government, which introduces itself to the country., including representatives of all political parties united in a national democratic bloc, has been instructed to assume leadership of the State in the most difficult and the most decisive period in the Rumanian peoples’ fate. The dictatorial regime, by permanently violating the people’s will, has hitherto endangered Rumania's existence. The dictatorship today is cast aside and the people enter into their own rights.” The radio added that the new Cabinet had already issued decrees granting <in amnesty for political crimes committed . since 1918. In Bucharest and the Allied capitals there has been no official announcement of the peace terms, but it is pointed out that some time ago Mr. Churchill said that Russia had offered generous terms to Rumania, and had indicated that no doubt they would be accepted were it not for the country’s leaders. Mr. Anthony Eden said that Russia’s terms to Rumania were approved by Britain before they were put forward. The German overseas news agency recalls Ribbentrop’s promise that German soldiers would defend Rumania as they would their own Fatherland. German Force in Country. Bucharest radio continued repeating the Royal proclamation for 45 minutes. The-Br’itish United Press points out that the sudden interruption of the normal programmes and the continued repetition appears to indicate a planned move by the Rumanian Government to give Germany the shortest possible warning of its defection. A fair number of German troops are sfili in Rumania, and the German headquarters staff is still in Bucharest.