BLOODY CLASHES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22478, 13 January 1943, Page 4

BLOODY CLASHES

Uprising In Bulgaria

(Rec. 10 pun.) LONDON. Jan. 11. Bulgaria's telephone and telegraph communications have been cut off since January 4. Speculation is rife concerning the mysterious events which brought about this isolation, says the Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” Travellers arriving in Istanbul from Central Europe state that they were not allowed to leave the precincts of the Sofia and Provliv stations. They were able to snatch news items showing the situation as very troubled. The authorities are stated to have taken rigorous measures throughout Bulgaria and have arrested about 25,000 alleged Communists. Workers, students and other discontented groups are reported to have prepared a widescale rising. Ten thousand workers, backed by students and Communists, last weekend demonstrated in all the big centres and attacked police stations and official buildings. The location of the organisers of the uprising is not known, but the fact that disorders occurred simultaneously shows careful planning. The Government has been obliged to reinforce the police with troops. Many bloody clashes occurred with heavy casualties on both sides. A few hundred students are reported to have been executed.