GRAVE SITUATION IN FRANCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20890, 20 November 1937, Page 17

GRAVE SITUATION IN FRANCE

SECRET STORES OF ARMS DANGER OF SUDDEN REVOLT AMAZING REVELATIONS BY POLICE Dulled Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 20 12.45 a.m.) PARIS, November 19. Startling revelations continue in regard to the Cagoulards plot. Mr Marx Dormoy, Minister of the Interior, said the situation is becoming hourly graver. A raid on the Rue Beuusire revealed 1505 hand grenades, hundreds of machine guns, rifles, converted shotguns, and over 100 submachine guns were seized in two days. The police, breaking in a secret storeroom in the offices of a river transport contractor’s in the Bastille area, found 54 cases of hand grenades, fourteen anti-tank guns, numbers of rifles, light and machine guns. The directors were arrested. It is revealed that the Surete is investigating 200 illicit radio stations over a wide range near barracks frontiers, seaports and important airports.

Emergency guards have been ordered to shoot all strangers entering Government buildings, and not stopping after two demands.

It is presumed that the arms were mostly smuggled across the Swiss border. Fourth Arms Depot The Paris correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph" says: “Police investigating the Cagoulards discovered a fourth arms depot. Two more have been arrested, making eleven. A search was made of 450 houses throughout France. It is stated that the police unearthing an organisation named the "Secret Revolutionary Militia,” formed of extremists from various militant leagues, which were dissolved last year. The police believes the hospital they discovered was intended for the treatmen. of wounded in the event of a rising. They are investigating the activities of the doctors in the vicinity. Scenes of disorder caused the suspension of the session of the Chamber of Deputies. M. Chaippe, former Paris Prefect of Police, accused the Communist Deputies of Terrorist outrages in Fiance, and with provoking bloodshed in North Africa.

One Communist leapt to his feet shouting fiercely, and was preparing to cha. ge his opponents opposite when M. Herriot suspended the sitting. WAR ON COMMUNISM STRONG MEASURES IN ITALY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 19, 6.30 pm.) LONDON, November 18. The Rome correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph" says: “Manacled behind iron bars in the prisoners' cage, twenty-five more men were charged with Communistic activities. The ringleader was sentenced to life Imprisonment, twenty-one to one to eight years’ Imprisonment, two were acquitted. A total of 107 have now been sentenced. More trials will take place soon.