BULGAR PEASANTS SLAIN BY TROOPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 9

BULGAR PEASANTS SLAIN BY TROOPS.

SUSPICION EXCUSE FOR SAVAGE REPRISAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. "Times” Service. (Received November 4. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 3. The Sofia correspondent of “ The Times ’ says that astounding revelations are made regarding reprisals upon Bu.garian peasants, who are believed to be friends of a notorious brigand band, numbering thirty. It. appears that both agrarian emigres and Soviet agents utilised the brigands to carry on revolutionary movements. They spread terror in many country districts and carried out a series of daring robberies, culminating in the rifling from a postal van of several bundles of Savings Bank notes. They also killed several police and other officials. Martial law was then proclaimed in the terrorised districts and troops were sent, but spies enabled the band to escape. After several encounters, in which four of their number were killed, the band took refuge in Jugo-Slavia. The troops then attacked the peasants and shot over 100 agrarians and Communists, including women, allegedly because they were pec ted of having relations with the brigands. Many were executed without trial. The Agrarian- Party has now appealed to the Government to ensure that the troops observe the legal formalities iri their efforts to stamp out political bigandage.