REDS IN SOFIA.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 9

REDS IN SOFIA.

THE RECENT OUTRAGE.

A HUNT FOR COMMUNISTS. REPRESSION OF ANARCHY. (St cable—press associatios— copyright) IStdnet "Sen'' Szbvicz.) SOFIA, April 19. The Communists are importing arms via the Black Sea, and arc attacking Starazagora, from which they have heen twice repulsed. Bandits are plundering and murdering all over the country. Several Agrarian leaders, who support the principle of a coalition with the Communists, and also certain mem' bers of the illegal Executive Committee of the Communists, were discovered hiding in houses in Sofia. Some resisted, and were killed by persons maddened by the loss of relatives in the cathedral explosion.

Captain Krioneff, who it is alleged procured the explosive used in the cathedral, committed suicide, and his wife is said to have been killed by the Communists in order to prevent- her revealing the plot. A cathedral servant has been arrested. It is alleged that he was bribed to permit a man to place the infernal machine in position.

Threo British M.P.'s, Commander Wedgwood, Mr P. B. Malonc, and Mr W. Mackindcr, liavc arrived in Sofia to study tlic situation. The War Minister, in an interview, declared that an increase in the Army was indispensable to maintain order. Steps would Ise taken to cortscript an additional 10,000 men.

The police have discovered the authors of the cathedral outrage, which was committed, it is alleged, by Yankoff and Minkoff, president and vicepresident of the Central Communist Committee. Almost all the Communist leaders have been arrested. The Minister for the Interior, when interviewed, said that t.hc -AgrarianCommunist Party had sold itself to foreign interests. Arrested criminal members of the party made disclosures which permitted of tlio discovery of the authors of the outrage. The Premier declared that it was the Government's determination to repress! the Communists and anarchists.

The Government is introducing a Bill to provide grants for families bereaved by the explosion.

PEACE AND ORDER.

CAMPAIGN OF DESTRUCTION. ("the times.") LONDON, April 19. The Sofia correspondent of "The Times" says that the Premier, M. Tsankoff, in a statement, declared thai' Bulgaria v.ars traversing a most difficult period. The recent discoveries of Communist activities had confirmed tho events of tho last few days, proving that Bulgaria was the object of a campaign aiming at the destruction of peaco and order. The Government possessed irrefutable proof that apart from the activities of subversive Bulgarian elements there was also considerable foreign collaboration. The Government was conscious of its duty, and viewed the situation calmly, and had taken the necessary measures to prevent trouble and disorders. Tho inter-Allied Commission has authorised Bulgaria to increase her Army by« 4000, owing to the Bolshevik menace. The "News of the World" pays a tribute to King Boris's bravery, and says that the attack on him on April 16th was a Communist outrage, probably as a result of his engagement to the Rumanian Princess, leana, whom he has long passionately loved. The Belgrade correspondent of the "Daily News" says it is reported that King Boris is preparing to leave Bulgaria if circumstances necessitate it.

BASIS OF THE PLOT.

MURDER OP KING BORIS.

(austbauan and n.z. cable association.)

(Received April 20thj- 8.10 p.m.) BELGRADE, April 20

The Jugo-Slav Foreign Office has received information that Bulgaria i» seeking permission from tho Great Powers to enlarge her army temporarily by ten thousand men, and thus maintain order and combat the activities of t-lic Communists. Telegraphic communication with Sofia is cut off.

Messengers from Sofia state that the search for bodies in tho Cathedral continues. Two hundred dead have been recovered, and thirteen hundred injured. The upper structure of the Cathedral has fallen in.

The police have made at least five hundred arrests, of which 280 are in Sofia, including a woman who was found to have fortv-four pounds of explosives in her baggage.

The general belief is that the murder of King Boris was the basis of the plot. The murderers hoped the Royal funeral would result, in the assembling of all prominent Bulgarians in the Cathedral. Instead the death of a General gave a lesser opportunity for a bomb outrage.