UNREST EXTENDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1943, Page 3

UNREST EXTENDING

IN THE BALKAN COUNTRIES TROUBLE OVER LOSSES IN RUSSIA. DISORDERS IN BULGARIA & RUMANIA. LONDON, January 12. Evidence continues to accumulate of increasing unrest in the Balkans. Reports reaching Switzerland and Turkey say that the trouble is arising chiefly over continued heavy losses of the Balkan armies in Russia, food shortages and the growing intrusion of German authority in various Balkan countries.

The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that as a result of rioting and. revolt throughout Bulgaria, Germany has threatened the Bulgarian Government that she will actively intervene unless the disorders are quelled. This has resulted in renewed outbreaks. Students at the military college at Sofia forcibly occupied the college buildings for several days and then fled to the mountains, where they have become guerillas. Several groups of Bulgarian soldiers succeeded in crossing into Turkey after learning that they might be sent to Russia. Telephone communication with Bulgaria is still cut.

Reuter’s Zurich correspondent says that many were killed or injured last week in rioting at Krajova, Rumania. Casualties included police. Rumanian hospitals are so packed with war wounded that injured persons are accommodated in a maternity clinic from which many patients have been removed. ARRESTS CONTINUE. The British United Press Ankara correspondent says that arrests continue in Rumania. Twenty were arrested at Braila, where a crowd demonstrated against General Antonescu’s war nolicy. Reuter’s Zurich correspondent says the German Ambassador has strongly protested because a guard of honour was not provided when diplomats arrived for the New Year reception by the Slovak puppet Prime Minister, Dr. Tiso. It is revealed that the guard of honour was rushed to quell a disturbance outside the palace of Archduke Friedrich Hapsburg, where a crowd was demonstrating, demanding news of husbands and fathers mobilised for service in Russia.

The recent murders of M. Kiazam Kotsuli and M. Lele Kotchi, respectively Minister of State and Governor of the Valona district of Albania, have convinced Italians that reconciliation with Albanian patriots is impossible, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Istanbul correspondent. Kotsuli and Kotchi went to the guerilla district to attempt to induce the patriots to abandon resistance to Italians, but the patriots immediately killed them. The patriots have since stepped-up warfare against the invaders. ' . BOMBINGS AT VALONA. Several bombings occurred at Valona, where Italian cinemas and a military club were razed by fire. Buildings elsewhere in which Italians were housed were also burned and numerous instances of sabotage are reported. The Ankara correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says it is persistently reported that Herr von Papen is shortly leaving Turkey permanently because Germany regards his mission as having finally failed. Germany is very annoyed that Turkey, instead of breaking off her alliance with Britain, is showing increasing attachment to the Allied cause and faith in an Allied victory.

“UNANIMITY OF VIEW”

HITLER AND ANTONESCU. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, January 13. The German news agency has stated that Hitler received General Antonescu (Rumanian dictator) at his headquarters. Their talks, the agency states, covered all questions concerning the military effort of the two nations and complete unanimity of view was established on waging the war against the common foe.