OIL ON FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21245, 16 October 1940, Page 7

OIL ON FIRE

THREE WELLS DESTROYED CONDITIONS IN RUMANIA NAZI NAVAL MISSION (United rress Assn.—Elec. Te!. Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 14 Three oil wells were completely destroyed by fire near Baicot, says | a message from Bucharest. The Rumanian censor has suppressed refer- | ence to the cause of the fires. German 1 fire-fighters went to the scene after ] Rumanians had brought the fire under control. | Only conflicting reports are coming j through, states the 8.8. C. It is underj stood that two of the wells are Ru- ; manian, while the third is owned by a German-controlled company. Press agency reports agree that all three wells were destroyed. The Bucharest radio, however, States that work was resumed normally in 45 minutes. Agency messages state that the fires were caused by sparks from machinery. A German naval mission arrived in Bucharest today, probably in connection with the construction of a naval base at Mamaia, where members of the Italian Air Force had ! earlier arrived to assist in the estabj lishment of a seaplane base. According to German circles, German troops in Rumania will soon number 10 divisions. About 3000 more German troops, mostly anti-aircraft crews, have arrived at Galatz. The Rumanian Prime Minister, General Antonescu, in a speech at a reception to the German military mission, said: “We are engaging great teachers for the reorganisation of our army. Germany’s international development is of necessity based on economic and military facts, and not on illusions.” An Italian and German mission will arrive in Budapest today to begin arbitration in the dispute between Rumania and Hungary regarding Transylvania. The Fires Extinguished A Bucharest communique states that the cause of the fires at three oil wells in the Ploesti region on October 14 is unknown. They were extinguished in 56 minutes, thanks to the presence of watchful German squads. The damage amounts to £4OOO. Work at the wells is functioning normally.

NARROW ESCAPE MINISTER OF LABOUR BEDROOM WINDOW BROKEN (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 16, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 15 Mr E. Bevin, Minister of Labour, had a narrow escape while sleeping, from a bomb which dropped outside his bedroom window and shattered a window. Mr Bevin returned to his bed after learning that the damage was superficial. SENSATIONAL REPORTS TREATED WITH RESERVE DEVELOPMENTS IN RUMANIA TURKISH-SOVIET ATTITUDE (Omclal Wireless) (Received Oct. 16, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 15 No confirmation has reached official quarters in London of the various alleged important changes in the situation in Rumania. Press reports continue to be received suggesting developments affecting the attitude of the Soviet and Turkey. For example, some of these reports, emanating from Bucharest, speak of the movement of Soviet troops into Rumania over the Bessarabian frontier. Pending confirmation there reports are treated with the greatest reserve and caution in view of the fact that communications are presumably controlled by the German masters at Bucharest.