The Irish standard., 1907-03-30
FORTY PEASANTS DIE
IN desperate FIGHT
VICTIMS OF RoUMANIAN lNSUR.
GENTS ARE CUT TO PIECES
AND BURNED.
DISORDERS REPORTED
At NUMEROUS POINTS
King Charles Promises Reforms to
Quell RebeiIon-severaI Taxes
Are AboIished-RebeIs Charged
with Extreme CrueIties.

Bucharest, Roumania, March 2S.-
Forty peasants were killed in hard
fight with troops in the Mozazi dis
trict. The insurgents in that section
cut to pieces and burned some of their
victims.
A stubborn encounter occurred at a
point on the Guirgeve road, about 60
miles from Bucharest, where 1900 in
surgents met strong detachment of
troops. The troops attacked with cav
airy as we'll as infantry, but the mill
tary commander ultimately was OBJ
liged to use artillery before he was
able to force the peasants to retreat.
Situation Reported Improved.
The minister of the interior an
in Moldavia had improved, but there is
not much evidence in support of the
statement in the reports of disorders
coming in from numerous points. From
the districts of Vlashica, Dambovitz
Tecuci, Buzen, Dali, Olt and Teleor-
man come the now familiar stories of
1ncendarism, pillage and excesses Of
all kinds. The censorship is strict,
with the result that details of the oc-
currences are lacking.
The workmen in the petroleum dis
tricts are also in state of excitement,
but the authorities believe that the
measures taken will prevent any dis
order among them.
King Issues Proclamation.
The measures proposed by the gov
eminent to meet the demands of the
revolted peasantry and end the civil
war which is devastating Moldavia
and Wallachia were announced in
Wednesdays issue of the official Ga
zette in the shape OF proclamation
issued in the name Of King Charles.
The royal proclamation appeals for
the patriotic cooperation of the people
ito secare the establishment of tran
quillity, and announces that the sover-
eign has agreed to the immediate sup.
preston of some of the heavy taxes,
while hereafter the farm lands will be
cultivated by the state or leased direct
to the peasants. None of the larger
syndicates hitherto engaged in farm
ing vast tracts of land will be allowed
to hold more than 5000 acres.
The document also gives notice of
the Introduction of laws to ameliorate
the condition of the peasantry, facili-
tating the raising of money to pay
rents, reforming the taxation of small
holdings and revising the terms of the
agricultural agreements, which at pres
ent practically enslave the peasantry.
The chamber of deputies unanimous.
ly adopted bills providing for the aboli.
tion Of several taxes and other meas
ures which will be helpful to the rural
population of Roumania.
Insurgents Charged With crueItles.
London, March ga special dis.
patch from Sofia, Bulgaria, says that
according to some of the Roumania
refugees who have arrived on the Bull.
garian side of the Danube the insur.
gent peasantry have been guilty of the
same ruthless cruelties which usually
mark the feuds in the Balkans. Many
of the landlord class have been burned
to death after their bodies and limbs
had been enrolled in the thick twists
of hay or straw. The children, the
refugees report, have been hacked to
death by the revolted peasantry.