GESTAPO AT WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24851, 24 March 1944, Page 3

GESTAPO AT WORK

ROUND-UP IN BUDAPEST TRAFFIC WARNED OFF ROADS LONDON, March 22 The Gestapo in Budapest has begun a round-up of 580 British subjects still living in Hungary, who hitherto were required only to report to the police once a month, says Reuter's Ankara correspondent. The German occupying force is estimated at about five divisions of motorised infantry, totalling about 50,000 men. There is no confirmation of the arrival of anv panzer divisions. The Times' correspondent in Ankara says Hungarian troops were confined to barracks while the German occupation was proceeding. Martial law was proclaimed in some districts of south-east-ern Hungary near the Carpathians. According to reports reaching diplomatic circles in Zurich, fighting on the Hungarian-Rumanian border between troops of the two countries has developed into regular battles. At some points, fighting is reported to have started when Rumanians tried to cross the frontier. The Budapest radio has warned civilian traffic off the roads throughout Hungary. All Budapest bus services have been cancelled except those on the three main routes.

RUMANIA'S FATE ANTONESCU VISITS HITLER (Reed, «.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 2.S Tlie Vicliv radio says the Prime Minister of Rumania. Antonescu, has gone to Hitler's headquarters. Military observers in Ankara believe that the German reserves entering Rumania will meet the German armies withdrawing from Bessarabia in order | to form a tie fence line covering Bucharest and Ploesti. Most military commentators agree tliat the Germans plan to use Rumania as a battlefield in their attempt to block the Russian drive from the east. The British United Press correspondent in Madrid says that Nazi leaders tear the growing peace movement in the Balkans. Tliev believe that the German forces in Southern Russia will be cut off if the movement i.s not checked. CHURCHILL TO BROADCAST (Reed. C.MO p.m.) LONDON, March The Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, will give a broadcast speech at 8 p.m. (Greenwich mean time) on Sunday (<S a m Aim.day, New Zealand time).