BITTER FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 5

BITTER FIGHTING

IRON GUARD FACTIONS IN RUMANIA MANY REPORTED KILLED. . CLASH WITH GERMAN TROOPS IN MOLDAVIA. (By Teiej;rnph—Press Association—Copyright! LONDON. January 7. According to news reaching the Bulgarian frontier, bitter fighting has broken out between rival factions of the Iron Guard in Rumania, and many of these have been killed. Rumania has been cut off by telephone for the last three days, but stories of shooting, sabotage and terror are trickling across the frozen Danube from Giurgiu.

The moderate Iron Guards, who are under M. Moria Sima, and support General Antonescu’s Government, arc apparently ranged against the extreme Nationalist elements, claiming to represent the real doctrines of the late leader, Codreanu.

The Belgrade correspondent of "The j Times" says that reports multiply that ' the .Antonescu Government is rapidly : losing ground because of popular dis- ' content against German domination, the increased cos* of living, and the arrests of supposed Communists. German troops are stated to have : clashed with Rumanians in Moldavia. It is reported that the general who i commanded the German troops in Roland is to go to Rumania shortly to take over command of the German forces there. SERIOUS SITUATION ALMOST LIKE CIVIL WAR. LONDON, January 11. The Belgrade correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph’' says the situation in Rumania is almost like civil war. The majority of the iron Guard is gravitating to the Codreanist group, which disapproves of any foreign in* tluenee in Rumania. Thus they are making common cause with the muxs* e,s, who dislike the German domina* lion, a feeling tiuit is manifest in all fields of Rumanian life.