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1 correction by allanraymond - Show corrections

KING BORIS

DEAD

Doubt About

Cause

LONDON, Aug. 29 (A.A.P.).-No official announcement has been made of the cause of the death of King Boris of Bulgaria, who

died at 5.32 p.m. on Saturday.

The German News Agency on Friday stated that the King, who had then been ill only three days, was suffering from heart disease.

The "New York Times" correspon-   dent in Berne, Switzerland, Daniel Brigham, on the other hand, stated that it was reported that Boris was shot in the abdomen at a small sta- tion outside Sofia as he was entering his motor car after returning by special train from his visit to Hitler's field headquarters.

The report, which emanated from a reliable Balkan source, said Brigham, added that a pro-Russian police In- spector fired the shots, three of which hit the King.

British Official Wireless, however, on Saturday declared that rumours that Boris had been suffering from angina pecloris, and others that he had been shot had been denied by Bulgarian authorities.

NEW KING AGED SIX

A proclamation issued by the Bul- garian Prime Minister, Professor Filov, on Saturday stated:

"King and Tsar Boris the Unifier died at 5.32 p.m. after a short illness. The King passed away in the presence of his family. The Bulgarian nation's grief is immeasurable. It is the sacred duty of all to fulfil his legacy and continue on the path he has shown us, united and unswerving."

Later, it was announced that Boris's son, Simeon, aged six, succeeds to the Throne as King Simeon the Second. A Council of Ministers will rule until a regency is settled.

Berlin Radio has stated that the Bulgarian Cabinet, after a five-hour meeting, ordered 40 days' mourning for Boris. Theatres will be closed and weddings suspended for a week.

Reuter's Diplomatic Correspondent says that Germany will have to take stronger measures to avert an up- heavel In Bulgaria. Boris's death might, of itself, provoke a crisis.

Boris, the correspondent adds, after the outbreak of the war played a subtle game. His adherence to the tripartite pact, paved the way for the German onslaught on Greece and Yugoslavia. His reward was the aggrandisement of Bulgaria by the addition to it of parts of Dobrudja, from Rumania, Macedonia from Yugo- slavia, and Thrace from Greece. However, Boris resisted all of Hitler's attempts to induce him to send Bul- garian troops to Russia. Recently Boris, like other Balkan satellites of the Axis, had been trying to get a foothold in the Allied camp.

LOSS IN GREAT WAR

Boris the Third was bom at Sofia on January 30. 1894, and was the eldest son of King Ferdinand I and Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon Parma.

During the Great War he was attached to his father's staff. On the abdication of his father in 1918 he ascended the Throne. Bulgaria, after the war. was disarmed, fined a big indemnity, and lost part of her territory. More than a quarter of a million refugees poured back into what remained of the kingdom and reduced the country to poverty.

Boris in 1930 married Princess Giovanni of Italy. He is described as having been gentle and retiring, with great personal charm.

John Gunther in "Inside Europe," says that Bulgaria was so poor that Boris regarded any ostentatious dis- play of luxury as in bad taste. He displayed personal courage during the stormy early days of the reign, and survived several attempts to assassi- nate him. He spoke several languages, was a naturalist of merit, and an engineer. He travelled extensively and visited England on many occa- sions, the last being in 1938.

As a constitutional monarch Boris achieved personal popularity. In 1934, however, he suspended the Constitution, all political parties were abolished, and for four years he gov- erned without a Parliament and his Cabinet administered a semi-dictator- ship. Five years ago elections were again held and Boris's policy was endorsed in a victory for his candi- dates.

Although his own sympathies were pro-Axis. Boris was compelled by popular feeling to endeavour to keep Bulgaria out of the war but increasing pressure from Germany forced à declaration of war on Britain in December, 1941.

Digitisation generously supported by
Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation
Digitisation generously supported by

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