SAVAGE REPRISALS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 11

SAVAGE REPRISALS

BULGAR PEASANTS SHOT

TBOOPS BELIEVE THEM TO BE FRIENDS OF BRIGANDS.

(United Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Eeceived 4th November, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, 3rd November. The Sofia correspondent of "The Times" says that astounding revelations have been jnade regarding unjustifiable reprisal* upon Bulgarian peasants, who were believed, to be the friends of a notorious brigand band numbering thirty. It appears both agrarian emigres and Soviet agents utilised the brigands to carry on revolutionary movements. They spread terror in many country districts and carried out a series of daring j robberies, culminating in the rifling from a postal van of several sacks of banknotes. They also killed several polieo and other officials. Martial law was then proclaimed in the terrorised districts. Troops were sent, but spies enabled the band to escape. After several encounters, in which four of their number were killed, the band took refuge in Jugoslavia. The troops theu attacked the peasants and Bhot ovor a hundred Agrarians and Communists, including women, allegedly because they were suspected of having had relations with the brigands. Many were executed without trial. The Agrarian Party has now appealed to the Government to ensuro that troops observo legal formalities in their efforts to stamp out political brigandage.