RUMANIA’S FATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 7

RUMANIA’S FATE

♦♦♦ GERMAN PENETRATION TROOPS MARCHING IN BASES NEAR OILFIELDS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ' , '• LONDON. Oct. 7. Reports reached London this morning that German troops have penetrated into Rumania within the past 24 hours and that more are expected. According to press desoatches the German excuse for the invasion is protection of the oilfields against alleged British sabotage plots. No confirmation of the reported new German move has been received in official quarters in London, but in view of the history of aggression in the past 12 months the reports are by no means discredited. Meanwhile, inquiries are being made at Bucharest. The British United Press correspondent in Bucharest states that between four and five train loads of German motorised forces and air force units have arrived in Rumania in the past 24 hours following a Rumanian official claim to possess positive proof that British oilmen were engaged in plots to sabotage the oilfields. Government officials in Berlin denied that troops had entered Rumania, but the Rumanian Legation in Berlin confirmed that German troops had entered Rumania in accordance with an agreement “for training and reorganising the Rumanian Army, with all the equipment essential for modern warfare.” A number of Italian troops, it was stated, were also going to Rumania. Well-informed circles in Bucharest state that additional German units are due to arrive to-day and to-morrow by air. German and Italian headquarters in Bucharest emphasise that there is no question of the occupation of Rumania. It is undei stood ' that . the German troops have established bases in the oilfields be tween Ploesti and Port Giugiu on the Danube An expeditionary . corps is already established in Bucharest and has made contact ■ with the Rumanian General Staff. It is believed that three German divisions may enter ,Rumania, eventually. A Bucharest message says that when 60,000 Greenshirts and ' 20,000 - peasants in .national,: regional fcostume. demonstrated in t.he public square General Antonescu declared that September 6 (when ex-Kiiig Carol abdicated) had been a day of salvation for Rumanian in: commemoration of which the name of the square would be '' September Tr square. The Italian, German and Japanese Ministers wqre-present. ‘ . * •. ; '