GRUESOME PICTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1941, Page 9

GRUESOME PICTURE

CHAOS IN RUMANIA

VENEER OF GAIETY

GROWING HUNGER

ASSAULTS ON GERMANS

LONDON, January 17.

The Istanbul correspondent of the "Daily Mail" says that one of King Carol's ex-Ministers, a fugitive from the Iron Guard, who was interviewed after his arrival, painted a gruesome picture of the terrifying chaos into which Rumania had fallen. Everything possible was done to prevent the truth from reaching the world, he said.

The Foreign Legation staffs were endangered by the general lawlessness and were practically prisoners within their own walls.

He estimated that twelve German divisions had arrived and more were pouring in.

Germans swagger in the streets of Bucharest like conquerors, monopolising the night life and increasing the Rumanians' hatred by drunken bawling and Nazi songs. The Rumanians generally deeply resent the Iron Guard betrayal to the Axis. Germans are frequently assaulted after dark.

General Antonescu does not move without a strong bodyguard and every night changes his bedroom. He is a prisoner of the system he helped to create.

There have been 4000 executions and at least 12,000 arrests in six weeks and the arrests continue.

Life in Bucharest recalls Prague after the occupation. There is bitter hatred and growing hunger under a veneer of feverish gaiety. Eggs cost a shilling each and butter is 9s a lb. White bread has disappeared and black bread is sold three days after baking in order to reduce consumption.

The Germans' behaviour is whipping the people to fury. Followers of Godreanu, the Iron Guard leader, set on three Germans with sticks and beat them to death.