REIGN OF TERROR

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 320, 8 October 1940, Page 3

REIGN OF TERROR

BRITONS TORTURED IRON GUARD FANATICS KIDNAPPED OIL MEN CONNIVANCE OF POLICE (News by Cable.) LONDON, Oct. G. Britons in Rumania arc making their own plans to safeguard themselves against the reign of terror introduced by a fanatical group of the Iron Guard. The Bucharest correspondent of the Daily News says that the iemaining Britons have formed themselves into groups of members which are maintaining contact with one another every four hours to prevent a. long period elapsing between their disappearances and the beginning of consular inquiries. When a former Prime Minister, M. Agrentoianu learned that men were ransacking Ins house, he made contact with the German Minister instead of the police. The ransacking immediately ceased with profuse apologies. Promise of Secrecy

The British Legation issued a statement on behalf of Mrs. Tiac), the wife of a Canadian engineer, as-, sorting that “her husband and the other prisoners made her promise to say nothing about the treatment of the prisoners until all were released. This was because penalties would probably be inflicted on those still held prisoner should she speak freely/' The Bucharest correspondent of The Times says it lias been established that the kidnapping of Mr. A. Millar, an oil company official, was done with full knowledge of the police who, like General Antonescu’s office, deliberately misled the British Legation. The Iron Guard is torturmg Britons to induce them to reveal the alleged plans for the: sabotage of the oil wells. They tied their hands to high walls and applied blowlamps to their feet.