TO OCCUPY BULGARIA ONLY WAY FOR GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 205, 31 August 1943, Page 5

TO OCCUPY BULGARIA

ONLY WAY FOR GERMANY

Recd. 7.30 p.m. London, Aug. 29. Although a rigid censorship has been established in Bulgaria since the death of King Boris, Algiers radio tonight reported that a general strike had been declared throughout Bulgaria anti that there have been antiFascist demonstrations in Sofia. Ankara reports state that Professor Filov, the Bulgarian Premier, is believed to be ill and unable to maintain power. The internal position of Bulgaria may deteriorate so quickly that Hitler will be forced at any moment to occupy the country. Despite the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice’s statement that the death of Boris was due to heart failure, double pneumonia and inflammation of the lungs and brain, reports continue to circulate that he was shot.

Reports from Berne say that Hitler gave Boris an ultimatum which was due to expire at midnight on August 28. Hitler’s ultimatum is reported to have demanded: (1) The immediate total military and economic mobilisation of Bulgaria for the furtherance of the war (2) the building of a second defence line alcng the Turkish frontier, to be manned by German troops; (3) the granting of full powers to the Gestapo in Bulgaria. Boris, according to this Berne report decided to abdicate rather than accept the terms, but was shot by one of his police bodyguard.