A SAD HOMECOMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22393, 15 October 1934, Page 9

A SAD HOMECOMING

KING PETER AT BELGRADE AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TRADITIONAL STATE GREETINGS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) BELGRADE, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 6.30 p.m.) Enthusiastic crowds welcomed King Peter at the railway station. He was dressed simply in grey, with a black arm band, and shyly greeted the Regent, Prince Paul. He inspected the guard of honour, delivering the traditional greeting “ God save you,” the guard repeating the words in unison. He then greeted the crowd, his generals, and kissed the hand of the Patriarch, who blessed him. The young King next kissed the hands of the Prime Minister, members of tlie Government and ladies in waiting. He entered the carriage with his mother who, dressed in the deepest mourning, was unable to suppress her tears. The royal party drove to the palace along a three-mile route through serried ranks of school children. A SOLEMN PAGEANT FUNERAL OF M. BARTHOU FIFTY NATIONS REPRESENTED TRIBUTES TO A GREAT PATRIOT PARIS, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 6.30 p.m.) Nation-wide mourning marked the funeral of M. Barthpu. Vast reverent crowds thronged the Esplanade des Inyalides when the coffin, covered with the tricolour, was borne on a guncarriage—an honour hitherto accorded only to presidents among civilians — from the Foreign Office, where it had lain in state. The cortege, which was a mile long, included President Lebrun, members of the Cabinet, with M. Sarraut walking separately, representatives of 50" nations in colourful diplomatic uniforms, deputies, scarlet robed judges, green and gold uniformed academicians, military and naval force chiefs. . A party of Rumanian peasants, in national dress, carried Rumanian earth, which was eventually sprinkled on the grave.

\yhen the procession reached the space before the statue of Gallieni, the coffin was placed under the catafalque before which burned a flame of remembrance, from which source incense was ascending. The Prime Minister (M. Doumergue) mounted a black and silver dais and delivered an eloquent oration. He emphasised that M. Barthou’s every act was dominated by a passionate love for his country. He recalled M. Barthou’s many services to France, including forcing the Chamber to accept three years’ military service in 1913, which was a factor in saving the country in war time. He also paid a tribute to M. Barthou’s work for peace, on which he was engaged when he. was killed beside a wise , and chivalrous friend who was visiting France for the same purpose. M. Doumergue paid a tribute to King Alexander in similar terms. The one-armfed General Gouraud (Governor of Paris), limping from war wounds, led the march past. A service was held in the Chapel of Invalides beneath tattered regimental colours, and from that place the coffin was conveyed to Pere Laehaise, where it was buried in the same grave as the bodies of his wife and his eighteen-year-old son, who was killed in wartime in Alsace. . NETWORK OF CONSPIRACY LATEST POLICE REVELATIONS TRAINING FOR MURDERERS TRACING THE ACCOMPLICES PARIS, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 6.30 p.m.) Further information from the Zagreb police alleges that Novak, who has eight aliases, with numerous accomplices, including the ex-Deputy Pavelitch, all members of a secret organisation, plotted to kill King Alexander in 1929. They mined with dynamite railway bridges over which the King would pass. Two of the conspirators were executed, and 16 others were sentenced to terms aggregating 115 years. Novak escaped, but was sentenced to death in absentia with four others who murdered the manager of a newspaper. It is also alleged that Benes confessed that he belonged to Pavelitch’s terrorist organisation, and that he attended the Yankapousta camp in Hungary with Novak, where, with 30 others, they were taught t 6 become dead shots, Benes says he was accompanied to France by a mysterious conspirator, nicknamed Monsieur le Docteur, who provided him with clothes. The police are now searching for “le Docteur.” It has been ascertained that the girl conspirator mentioned yesterday is Marie Voudroch, who probably witnessed the assassinations. Kraemer, another alleged accomplice, who was traced to Avignon, has disappeared. Armed guards between Fontainebleau and Courtenay, who are searching for Chalny, signalled a motor car to stop. It contained a woman of about 30 and a man of about 20. Neither was able to produce identification papers. The guards mounted the running board and ordered the man to drive to the police station, whereupon the occupants drew revolvers and shot themselves dead. Benes’s real name is Ivan Raich. Cross-examined all night, he broke down and confessed to being an accessory to the assassination. He gave a list of accomplices and details of the names of the terrorists, whose leader lives in Milan. The organisation taught him to use machine guns. It is reported from Marseilles that a beautiful girl from Aix en Provence is believed to have supplied the Mauser pistol with which King Alexander and M. Barthou were killed. The police have discovered that Kalemen and his companions were in touch with her during their brief stay. She was beautifully dressed, and departed six hours before the crime. The police have taken her fingerprints, which were found in her room. NOVAK’S ADMISSIONS PARIS, October 12. Novak admitted that his real name was Pospieel. He is a terrorist whom the police in several countries have sought. They allege his association with numerous outrages. He is already under death sentence in Jugoslavia. He admitted that he travelled to Lausanne on an Hungarian passport, where an accomplice provided a Czechoslovakian passport, on which he entered France, accompanied by Kalemen. Pospisel allegedly confessed that he and Benes were members of a Jugoslavian terrorist organisation named

Paberich, which plotted if the first team of three killers, headed by Kalemen, failed at Marseilles, a second team under Pospisel would attempt the assassination in Paris. He also alleged that an attempt on the boy King’s life was intended, which the arrests prevented.

The police allege that they have sufficient evidence to guillotine both men. THE TERRORIST CAMP REPRESENTATIONS TO LEAGUE OVERTURES TO HUNGARY PARIS, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 7.30 p.m.) Kalemen’s name appears in the list of Croat terrorists believed to» have been inmates of Yankapousta camp on the Hungarian border. A complaint against the camp was sent by Jugoslavia to the League of Nations in April. M. Barthou was instrumental in persuading the Hungarian delegate to urge the Government to open an inquiry inro the camp which Jugoslavians declared was receiving official Hungarian support. When the League discussed the camp, the Hungarian delegate complained that there had been shooting across the frontier. The Jugoslavian representative retorted, “If we fired, it was because just across the frontier is the bandits’ lair.” EUROPE’S REACTION NO SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS OPINIONS AND COMMENTS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 12. According to authoritative information reaching London, no disorders of any proportions or significance occurred in Jugoslavia or anywhere else in Eastern Europe. The shock of the terrible tragedy at Marseilles led to a demonstration of intense grief among King, Alexander’s subjects. Nothing justifies the rumours which have been circulated in irresponsible quarters regarding the nature of the demonstrations. There is no doubt that the Government and the people of Jugoslavia have been deeply touched by the spontaneous sympathy expressed for the&, not only by neighbouring countries, but by every nation in the world. Telegrams reaching London from Belgrade emphasise that the people there have been particularly appreciative of the messages from Signor Mussolini and of the tone of the Italian press comments, which, incidentally, have been given special prominence in the Jugoslavia press. There is indeed hope that from the great evil of this tragedy some good may emerge, and that the commonly shared sorrow may help to establish a better understanding among the neighbouring countries, which the late King was striving to promote at the time when he met his death.

Messages from the most responsible quarters encourage the belief that the very violence of the tragedy may serve further to unite the peoples of Jugoslavia, which is of vita! interest to the whole of Europe. The Daily Mail says that the nature of the reports from tire capitals chiefly affected by this tragic affair show that there have been some outbursts of national emotion, and in accordance with Continental custom there has been some effervescence' in the streets. To conclude from such effervescence that the regime is going to be overthrown is all nonsense. Excited talk about a disturbed situation in the Near East does more than anything else to create such a disturbed situation.

The Daily Herald also says that fears may be allayed regarding repercussions to the crime. It declares that many irresponsible and inaccurate or exaggerated reports have been spread abroad, and these may all be discounted.

It is announced that the Duke of Kent will represent his Majesty at the funeral of King Alexander, His Highness will be accompanied by General Sir Walter Braithwaitc, representing the British Army; Major Butler, equerry to the Duke; and Major Arnold, BROADCAST COMMENTS A SUGGESTION RESENTED ITALIAN PRESS RETICENT BELGRADE, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 6.30 p.m.) The Jugoslavian Government has protested to Italy against statements in an Italian broadcast, which included comments on the Jugoslavian situation and suggested that disruption was imminent. ROME, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 6.30 p.m.) The Jugoslav broadcasts have been discontinued. They will be resumed only under strict supervision. The Government has suppressed a special edition of the Giornale dTtalia for describing anti-Croat and anti-aCtholic demonstrations in Jugoslavia. With one or two exceptions, the Italian newspapers completely abstained from comments on the assassination of King Alexander. Even the comments published urge that the countries of Europe, in order to avoid being overwhelmed by internal crises, must revise international politics. NEWSPAPERS SUSPENDED SAARBRUCKEN, October 12. (Received Oct. 14, at 6.30 pun.) The Saar Commission has suspended for a fortnight the extremist newspapers Deutsche Freiheit and Arbeiter Zeitung, which attributed the Marseilles assassinations to German influence. \ THE FRENCH CABINET M. CHERON RESIGNS PREMIER’S APPOINTMENTS PARIS, October 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 7.30 p.m.) M. Cheron, who was recently strongly criticised, has spontaneously resigned the Ministry of Justice to facilitate the reconstruction of the Cabinet. M. Doumerguc has appointed M. Laval Foreign Minister, M. Rollin Minister for tne Colonies, and M. Marchendeau Minister of the Interior in succession to M. Sarraut, whose letter of resignation says his conscience is clear, but as chief of the department he is responsible, even if he had done his duty.