RUMANIAN DISORDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1940, Page 8

RUMANIAN DISORDER

IRON GUARD v. ARMY KING’S^FLIGHT REPORTED [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.J LONDON, November 30. Though the Rumanian Government claims to have restored order in the country, reports are still coming in of widespread fighting between the Iron Guard and Rumanian troops. One is an American story which tells of a pitched battle in the streets of Bucharest.

Reports reaching the Hungarian frontier from Bucharest say that King Michael has fled from Bucharest, and General Antonescu is seeking the support of Dr. Maniu, who led the resistance of the Peasant Party to the cession of Transylvania to Hungary, and of the army commanders in maintaining control. Court officials in Bucharest, however, say that King Michael is still at the palace. Queen Helen went to Italy at her own wish. The Iron Guard legionaries who are alleged to be responsible for the first executions were not molested when they were returning from the Mass for M. Codreanu, although their arrest was predicted. The Free French News Agency in a message from Bucharest says that the dissident members of the Iron Guard machine-gunned from a motor car the Iron Guard headquarters, killing and wounding several executives. The Iron Guard has published a warning that it will defend its power against all comers. The Germans are dissatisfied with the economic administration of Rumania, and envisage the establishment of a German protectorate. The size of the German force in Rumania is increasing rapidly. i German sources in Budapest report that General Antonescu’s decrees have not been enforced against the legionaries, but have virtually been repealed. A Jewish pogrom is reported to have occurred at Ploesti and Galata.

The Bucharest correspondent of the British United Press says it is reported without confirmation that there have been 200 victims of the purge in Rumania. Diplomatic circles in Bucharest regard the arrival of a German mission for M. Codreanu’s funeral as connected with possible German intervention. Several divisions of the Rumanian Army have been dispatched to the capital, and army leaders have assured the Prime Minister (General Antonescu) of their loyalty. The German Chief-of-Staff (Field-Marshal Kietel) has also assured Rumania of continued collaboration, but at the same time Germany is openly avowing the justice of the Iron Guard’s actions.

There are reports of trouble from the provinces of Rumania. In the Ploesti oil fields district guards have been placed on all post and telegraph offices following the series of assassinations, which, according to the German authorities, have the full approval of the people. In spite of this German claim 6000 people watched the funeral of Dr. Jorga, a former Rumanian Prime Minister, although neither the hour nor the place of burial was announced.

CODREANU’S RE-BURIAL. LONDON, November 30. The Official German News Agency says that M. Codreanu and 13 members of the Iron Guard who were killed two years ago were reburied this morning in Bucharest. Wreaths were received from Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini and the Fascist Party. Representatives of Signor Mussolini and General Franco were present, as well as the Spanish and Japanese military attaches. The Supreme Court at Bucharest has quashed M. Codreanu’s conviction for treason. IRON GUARD ACTIVITIES. (Recd. December 2, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 1. It is reported from Bucharest that 100,000 Iron Guards have gone to Albaiulia to demonstrate for the return of Translyvania. The Bucharest streets are barricaded, with 100,000 Iron Guards in control. Troops are guarding King Michael.

The Associated Press Bucharest correspondent reports that 30 Iron Guards, responsible for the mass murders last week, committed suicide. After the funeral of Codreanu, they took revolvers from a table, and fired bullets into their hearts. REVOLT IN BESSARABIA? (Recd. December 2, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 1. A revolution is reported to have broken out in Bessarabia. It is expected that Germany will march in, “to restore order,” enabling Hitler to control the dictatorship. The “Sunday Express” says: The disturbance in Bessarabia may be engineered by Hitler, against Stalin, who is believed to have backed up Bulgaria to resist any Nazi move southward.

TRADE WITH RUSSIA MOSCOW, November 30. A Rumanian mission has arrived in Moscow to negotiate a trade agreement. M. Kalinin, in a speech, said: “Russia is a tremendous fortress covering one-sixth of the world’s surface, but the other five-sixths are held by our unprincipled and irreconcilable enemies.”