BUCHAREST SHOOTINGS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22762, 10 November 1945, Page 5

BUCHAREST SHOOTINGS

I GOVERNMENT GIVES VERSION I CORRESPONDENT’S OPINIONS | (Received Nov. 10, 1 p.m.) BUCHAREST, Nov. 9 j The official version of the shooting j yesterday in Royal Square, Buchar- j est, is given in a Government com- j munique broadcast by the Bucharest j radio. It accuses the “ suspicious j elements ” recruited by the Peasantry i Party under the leadership of Maniu of attacking State Officers. The soldiers to defend themselves had to use j firearms, and several peaceful citizens suffered. i The communique declares that the ' Government will use the strongest ; ' measures to strengthen and defend the democratic regime against elements which, under the cloak of monarchism, are trying to shatter the ex- i isting order. An American Press correspondent, j in Bucharest, who during the demon-! strating was either in Royal Square or in a hotel room from which he could j view the square, says the facts as he viewed them did not line up with l the communique. The mass demonstration for the King was for the greatest part a spontaneous gathering of people and the violence was out of proportion to the provocation. Government troops first fired on the crowd when the demonstrators attempted to tear down posters. The demonstration was entirely peaceful until Communists attempted to break it up.