MURDER POLITICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1939, Page 5

MURDER POLITICS

PREMIER OF RUMANIA ASSASSINATED PROMPT ACTION BY POLICE. MEMBERS OF IRON GUARD ROUNDED UP. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) BUCHAREST, September 21. A RUMANIAN GOVERNMENT RADIO MESSAGE ANNOUNCED THAT THE PREMIER, M. CALINESCU, HAD BEEN ASSASSINATED. M. Calinescu was shot dead while in a motor car in one of Bucharest’s principal streets. Another car drove up beside that of M. Calinescu’s before shots were heard, but it is not known whether the shots came from this car. Prompt police measures followed the assassination. Members of the Iron Guard (Rumanian Fascists) and other turbulent elements were rounded up. King Carol has summoned Cabinet. , Six young men are believed to be the assassins. RADIO CLOSED DOWN INDICATIONS OF CONFUSION. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) BUDAPEST, September 21. The Rumanian Legation reports that the Bucharest radio station closed down at 2.10 p.m. after some minutes of wild and confused shouting. The Legation adds that it is unable to reach the Foreign Ministry by telephone. A radio report states that a new Government has been formed headed by a firm opponent of the Iron Guard. The Government stated that the Iron Guard was responsible for the assassination. M> Calinescu was driving home when a cart was deliberately pushed in frdnt of his car, which had to stop. He was hit by fourteen bullets, four going through his heart and one through an eye. The assassins then forced their way to the broadcasting studio. The Government cut off all communication with other countries and started a roundup of the Iron Guard. Six men have been arrested and two others have committed suicide. All important buildings in Bucharest are heavily guarded. Documents have been found telling Germans in Rumania how to act when German troops reached the Rumanian frontier. A German radio station alleges that the assassination “was the outcome of the work of British and Polish agents.” The Rumanian Government states that the assassination had no international political significance. The assassins, who were arrested, were, according to the official German news agency, shot at 10 p.m.