IRON GUARD STRIKES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1940, Page 6

IRON GUARD STRIKES

WHOLESALE EXECUTIONS IN RUMANIA BEGINNING OF VENGEANCE PURGE. MANY NOTABLES MENACED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! (Received This Day. 12.50 p.m.) BUCHAREST, November 27. The Iron Guard has shot dead 64 political prisoners, including General Argesheanu and M. Marinescu also the secret service chief, M. Morozow, and General Stefanescu, former chief of police. The executions apparently are the beginning of a vast Iron Guard vengeance purge. Many other notables have been arrested, including M. Gigurcu, former Minister of Communications and M. Argetoianu, former leader of the Agrarian Union Party and General Ilasievic, the last , chief of Carol’s Military Cabinet. The Berlin News Agency describes General Argesheanu as the man who ordered the deaths of countless innocent legionaries after M. Codreanu’s death in September, 1939. It adds that M. Marinescu was an accomplice of M. Morozow, who controlled the espionage service for Carol. One general, | two majors and one policeman who allegedly ordered and supervised the Codreanu shooting have been executed, in addition to 14 policemen who carried out the shooting of the ringleaders and who subsequently reported the executions to General Antonescu and surrendered.

INSTIGATOR UNKNOWN AN ITALIAN REPORT. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) ROME. November 27. The “Giornale D’ltalia” stated that the executions, whose instigator is unknown, were carried out before Codreanu’s tomb was opened. TELEPHONIC BREAK (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) ZURICH, November 27. Telephonic communication between Switzerland and Rumania is impossible owing to an extensive disturbance of the Bucharest exchange.