BALKAN QUARREL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 170, 8 October 1927, Page 9

BALKAN QUARREL

MORE SABRE-RATTLING MURDER OF A GENERAL SITUATION MOST CRITICAL By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 1.15 p.m. BELGRADE, Friday The s tuation between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia is most critical. The Great Powers are manifesting concern and the British and French Ministers had lengthy interviews with the Yugoslav Foreign Minister. Cabinet, at a further meeting, instrutted its representative at Sofia to demand en€;rgetic action against the Macedonian murder clubs. Relations will be broken off if no satisfaction is afforded. In the meantime fresh crimes are reported. Bands of comitadjis attacked the frontier village of Klissura, and 20 bombs were thrown round the Customs office, police stations and the post office. Bulgaria affirms that the outrages were instigated by a Macedonian revolutionary committee, with the object of stirring up trouble between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. The Belgrade correspondent of “The Times” says a bomb from the Bulgarian State magazine was found in the street in Ishtip, where General Kovatchevitch was killed by men thought to be Macedonians. Political writers consider that this proves that the Bulgarian Government supplies arms to the comitadjis. There is intense excitement and troops have surrounded Ishtip. One of the murderers of General Kovat chevitch has been arrested and a reward is offered for the capture of his two accomplices. A message from Belgrade says the Cabinet has decided to close the Yug;o-slavian-Bulgarian frontier, owing to the continued activity of Bulgarian ir regulars, which has culminated in the murder of General Kovatchevitch. In a later report the Belgrade correspondent of “The Times” says troops have been sent to reinforce those guarding the frontier. Bulgarians are prohibited from entering Yugoslavia and the frontier has already been closed in some places.—A. and N.Z.