CLASHES IN BUCHAREST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23751, 3 September 1940, Page 7

CLASHES IN BUCHAREST

TRANSYLVANIAN PEASANTS ORGANISING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 2, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 3 Crowds clashed with troops in Bucharest and demonstrations are growing in North Transylvania against the cession of the territory to Hungary. Widespread damage is being caused and many people have been seriously injured. Rumanian police reinforcements have been rushed to Transylvania to prevent further demonstrations there. Peasants are reported to have occupied trenches which the Rumanian forces evacuated. They have sworn to die fighting rather than yield up the territory. Protest meetings were held in Bucharest, says the Balkans correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The crowds shouted, " Not an inch for the Magyars." Soldiers with machine-guns surrounded the meetings and also solidly blocked all streets leading to the Royal Palace. Troops with fixed bayonets charged and dispersed mobs which were attempting to reach the palace. The mobs reassembled and the soldiers used gas bombs and fire hoses, whereupon the crowds went to the Hungarian Legation. One of the aides of M. Maniu, leader of the Rumanian Peasant Party, in a fiery speech, called for resistance. The crowds chorussed, " We want to fight the Hungarians." Armoured cars are still patrolling the streets. A committee of resistance has been formed at Cluj, and elsewhere peasants armed with pitchforks and shotguns have taken up positions which the army has abandoned. It is reported from Cluj that troops who were sent there to break up demonstrations joined the crowds protesting against the award to Hungary. M. Maniu telegraphed to Hitler and Mussolini urging the' annulment of the Vienna decision and saying: " The Transylvania, Banat and Rumanian population will never accept the Vienna sentence." , * The Bucharest correspondent of the Daily Express says that as the Rumanian army fell back from Transylvania M. Maniu went to Cluj to organise the resistance to Hungary. In his telegrams to Hitler and Mussolini he signed himself " Governor-General: of Transylvania." The people of Bucharest abuse equally the Government and Hitler, says the correspondent.' Everyone believes that the Axis guarantee will be worthless if Russia moves into North Dobruja. Hungary has prepared a force of 180,000 men to occupy the ceded area if the disorders necessitate such action before the evacuation schedule has been drawn up. The Rome radio had stated earlier that demobilisation of the Hungarian Army would begin to-day. * -