BULGARIA NEXT?

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 7

BULGARIA NEXT?

Army Stated To Be Marching Home

(By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received August 25, 7-50 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 25. The Bulgarian army is marching home, says Reuters Cairo correspondent. Signs have multiplied in the last 12 hours that three years of unparalleled brutality in Macedonia and Thrace are coming to an end, and the Bulgarian Command has issued orders withdrawing at least 1 1 divisions from these territories. • * Official quarters in Cairo decline to comment on what is universally regarded as imminent Bulgarian- capitulation. The German evacuation of Bulgaria is almost complete. The “Daily Mail's” political correspondent says the peace terms for Bulgaria are at present under official consideration in London and Washington. It is possible that Bulgaria will announce her exit from the war within a few days. The British United Press correspondent in Moscow says that masses of Rumanian troops are laying down their arms and surrendering to the advancing Russians. More prisoners have been taken in the last 24 hours than on any single day of the offensive, but German troops- are still fighting back hard in an attempt to hold the Russians from Galatz. Berlin radio admits that the Russians, taking advantage of the new political situation, have driven deep wedges into the German positions. ,

Moscow radio reports that fierce armed clashes are occurring in northern Transylvania between the Rumanian population and Hungarian forces. The Hungarian authorities made many arrests and seized a large quantity o£ arms and ammunition. Bucharest radio says that after the armistice was announced on Wednesday night the inhabitants of Bucharest flooded out of their homes, surrounded the palace, and cheered the King for voicing the desire for peace. For the first time in the war. Allied news was given priority over Bucharest radio, says Reuter’s listening-post. Allied communiques were -given fully, but Axis communiques were ignored. Communists will be taken into the new Rumanian Government, stated Bucharest radio. Surprise To Britain.

The “Daily Mail’s” political correspondent says that King Michael’s broadcast came as a complete surprise to the British Government. It is assumed that Moscow was equally surprised. It is obviously for the Russians to decide in consultation with Britain and America whether the peace terms should be modified. No news has reached London on the situation in Rumania apart from King Michael’s broadcast. It has been known for some time that Rumania was anxious to get out of the war, and representations were made to the Allies last spring when Count Stiiibey visited Turkey and later Cairo. ■ Britain and the United States consulted Russia, and armistice terms were laid down for Rumania, which Mr. Churchill later described as “generous.” The Rumanians were also tojd to get into touch immediately with the Russian army. However, nothing more was done till the King’s broadcast last night. The first announcement of the Rumanian armistice with the Allies was made by the German news agency this afternoon. It then announced the formation by a “national group of patriots” of a “National Government,” which had issued an appeal to the people and the army urging them “not to obey the orders of the traitor King Michael and to continue the struggle against Bolshevism.” Russian Attitude. The Russian Foreign Office has issued the following statement: “In view of the events in Rumania, the Soviet Government considers it necessary to coufirin the declaration given last April that the Soviet Union has no intention of acquiring any part of Rumanian territory, of changing the existing social structure or infringing Rumania’s independence. The Soviet Government, on the contrary, considers it indispensable to reinstate Rumania’s independence by freeing Rumania from the German yoke. “The Russian High Command declares that if Rumanian troops will cease operations against the Red Army, and if they undertake co-operation with the Red Army and wage war against the Germans for Rumania’s independence, or against the Hungarians for Transylvania’s liberation, then the Red. Army will not disarm Rumanians, and will by every means help them to fulfil these tasks.”

MOVE IN HUNGARY All Political Activity Prohibited

LONDON, August 24. Tbe Hungarian Government has issued a decree dissolving all political parties immediately, says the German news agency; It adds that all political activity is prohibited and all property of the parties will be frozen. Heavy penalties will be inflicted for disobedience ot this decree. , Reuter, commenting on (he dissolution of the parties, points out that all liberal aud left wing parties were dissolved when the Germans marched into Hungary. The new decree, therefore, means that all Nazi and Nazi-sympathizing parties are also being broken up. The German Foreign Office spokesman was quoted by Berlin radio as saying that Germany’s reaction to. Rumania’s treachery would not be passive. “Germany is determined not to gloss over this treason after countless thousands of Germans have given their lives in defence of Rumania,” he said. The Czechoslovak Government delegation for the administration of liberated Czechoslovak territories, has left London by air on its way to Czechoslovakia via the Soviet Union. The delegation believes that the events in Rumania may speed up the entry of the Czechoslovak forces into the homeland.