ANARCHY IN RUMANIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 November 1940, Page 7

ANARCHY IN RUMANIA

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED MURDERS CONTINUE ANTONESCU STRUGGLING TO RESTORE ORDER [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] LONDON, 28th November. Despite obscurity caused by clashings with the Rumanian censor, who deleted 525 words from one British Associated Press message and treated other correspondents similarily, authorised reports give a gruesome picture of anarchy and chaos, with General Antonescu struggling hard with German aid to restore order. A state of emergency was proclaimed throughout Rumania to-night. It is learned that 20 additional supporters of King Carol were executed at Ploesti. The blood bath is given a new touch with the revelation that many of the victims were bludgeoned to death with pickaxes. Twenty-six members of the Iron Guard are reported to have committed suicide after participation in the murders. Thousands of members of the Iron Guard entered Bucharest to-day by train, lorry and car. All public buildings are guarded, and all Germans in Bucharest have been mobilised for action. The Bucharest correspondent of the Associated Press states that the Iron Guard’s power is indicated by the election of M. Radu Mironovici, who owns an Iron Guard newspaper, as Chief Officer, after the Iron Guard had refused to accept two of General Antonescu’s nominees. High Rumanian officers are threatening to resign unless the perpetrators of the murders are severely punished. The German Press briefly reports the bare facts under such headings as “Codreanu’s Murderers Shot by Legionaries.” The German Army Chief, General von Keitel, is reported to have flown to Bucharest. The “Daily Telegraph's” correspondent on the Rumanian frontier suggests that young Fascists were used during General Antonescu’s absence from the capital in order to show the world that the authorities were unable to control the country without German aid. It is not known how many more victims there are to the 64 who were shot yesterday morning, but it is feared that there may have been many more executions. It is suggested that the situation is too much for General Antonescu. American reports say that more German troops are arriving in Rumania. The Bucharest radio reports that there have been great troop movements in Bucharest The suggestion is that civil war is imminent. Some quarters suggest that Germany wants to give help to Italy while not involving herself in large-scale operations in the Balkans. Telephonic and telegraphic communications from Bucharest are still severely restricted, but it is learned that the Rumanian army is standing by in readiness for any eventuality. Cabinet is sitting almost continuously. Important changes among officials are expected. M. lon Codreanu, father of the dead Iron Guard leader, is reported to have been taken into custody following a threat against the present Administration.

The Rumanian Government’s explanation of the murder of the political prisoners in gaol is that while several Iron Guards were in the prison yard exhuming the body of their Jormer leader and 13 of his followers who were shot and buried there two years ago, they appointed themselves the executioners of 64 of their political opponents. The Rumanian Government expressed the disapproval of the murders after a Cabinet meeting which lasted ten hours, and followed that up by announcing the revision of the penal code.