SAVAGE CRIME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1939, Page 6

SAVAGE CRIME

MURDER OF THE PREMIER OF RUMANIA OFFICER ALSO KILLED. EIGHT ALLEGED ASSASSINS SHOT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) BUCHAREST, September 21. Detailed reports of the assassination of the Rumanian Premier, M. Calineseu, state that as his car was approaching a bridge, another car drove into it. Two other cars drew up and the assailants fired through the windows, hitting M. Calineseu in three places including an eye. He died On route to hospital. M. Calineseu’s aide was also killed and his chauffeur was in j tired.

The assassins then drove to the Bucharest Radio Station, shot and wounded a doorkeeper, and announced the assassination.

There has been constant agitation in Rumania by the Iron Guard since Germany's invasion of Poland. The Government suppressed news of the unrest, fearing international complications. Radio listeners were astounded to hear a musical programme interrupted by a voice shouting: “A,successful attempt has been made on the life of M. Calineseu. Throughout Rumania there is terrible excitement.” Then technicians cut off the broadcast, but not before wild confusion and shouting were heard, indicating that the unauthorised broadcaster had been attacked. Later it was officially announced that eight arrests had been made. A Government broadcast in the evening accused members of the Iron Guard as assassins and stated ■ that General Ernest Bailiff had been appointed Prime Minister. Peace and order prevails throughout Rumania. It is understood that General Bailiff’s appointment is temporary. The new Cabinet passed a resolution reaffirming Rumania’s strict neutrality. Eight Rumanian Iron Guards, allegedly participants in the assassination, were executed by a firing squad pn the spot where the crime was committed, the bodies remaining in pools of blood while thousands of onlookers filed past. PLOT THAT FAILED GERMANS IN RUMANIAN TERRITORY. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) » BUDAPEST, September 21. _ The police arrested German residents of Bukovina province on a charge of plotting to join Germany if Nazi troops reached the Rumanian frontier. The plot miscarried owing to the arrival of the Russians instead of German forces. NEW PREMIER GENERAL ARGENHANM NAMED. (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) LONDON, September 21. The United Press’s Bucharest correspondent states that General Argenhanm, commander of the Bucharest Army Corps, succeeded M Calineseu as Premier.