A MILITARY COUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19977, 20 December 1926, Page 11

A MILITARY COUP

REVOLT IN LITHUANIA. THE GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN. (Preit Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) RIGA, December 17. A military coup d’etat under General Smetona overthrew the Lithuanian Government. The Prime Minister, M. Bistras, and the members of the Cabinet were arrested. The rising is reported to be due to resentment at the Government’s Russian policy.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BLOODSHED AVOIDED. AN ANTI-BOLSHEVIST MOVEMENT. a LONDON, December 17. (Received Dec. 18, at 5.5 p.m.) The coup d’etat was carried out blooilessly. The streets were placarded as follows at dawn: “The Government is selling the country to the Bolshevists and foreigners, and therefore the army is temporarily taking over the situation.” General Smetona has declared martial law. Kovno is quiet.—A. and N.Z. Cable. . A CLASH IMPENDING. RIVAL FACTIONS PREPARING. KONIGSBERG, December 18. A local newspaper reports that a battle is impending at Kovno between General Wilsauki’s troops and the regiments that are loyal to the overthrown Government. Colonel Glovatsky, a Fascist, has been made Governor of Kovno. - Another report states that all power is in the hands of Major Plekhavichus, an ex-Czarist„ and the self-proclaimed Dictator. A portion of the army is preparing to attack.—A. and N.Z. Cable. Lithuania passed to Poland in 150'’ and later became absorbed in Russia and (to a small extent) in Prussia. The independence of Lithuania was proclaimed at Vilna on February 16, 1918. It is now a Republic with a population of 5,000,000. Vilna is the capital. PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION EXPECTED. KOVNO, December 18. (Received Dec. 19, at 11.30 p.m.) It is officially deni ’ that the Government is preparing to attack Vilna. It is expected that th. President will resign. His most likely successor is General Smetona. Many arrests of Communists have been made throughout the country. The Lithuanian wireless station has rs : sumed broadcasting.—A. and N.Z. Cable.