Dusk to Dawn

Sunday in trim, flowery little Sofia last week was an idyllic summer day. Citizens sat in the cafes as if nothing had happened since King Boris married his Italian princess four years ago. But all had changed since two nights before when Fascist army officers seized the Government, booted out all elected politicians, jailed 800 and foisted Fascism on Bulgaria.

The Zveno Club came into being in 1928 soon after Lieut.-Colonel Kimon Gueorguieff resigned in protest as Minister of Railways in a politicians' Cabinet. Mild, bespectacled Colonel Gueorguieff and his Zveno friends did not like politicians. Loyal to popular, brave King Boris, they told him some time ago that they wanted to take the Government away from Premier Nicholas Mushanoff. Trying to be neutral toward the politics of his country, Boris tush-tushed them.

Last week when Premier Mushanoff's Cabinet fell and he was told to form another, the Zveno boys got busy. While Sofia slept, the officers of the city garrison reported at barracks for orders. By companies the Army marched softly into the streets, occupied public squares, politicians' homes, power houses, telephone and telegraph offices and the railway stations. Premier Mushanoff tried to get a telephone number, shouted impatiently into the mouthpiece: "Premier Mushanoff speaking here!" A mysterious voice replied: "You're not Premier any more." Soon he heard the roar of airplane engines swooping over the city. Outside officers barked commands boldly in the streets. Until the next morning the Army held Sofia and the provincial cities paralyzed. Only then did Bulgarians find out what had happened --the neatest and most peaceful coup d'etat the Balkans had ever seen.

Colonel Gueorguieff was the new Premier. He named a Cabinet of Zveno men and sympathizers, including a general, a professor and a banker. Like machine-gun fire Dictator Gueorguieff presented decrees and manifestos to the King, got his signatures, shot them at the public. By noon that day the streets were again empty of soldiers. The decrees promised: 1) Fewer ministers and public employes at lower salaries. 2) Stable municipal organizations with mayors appointed by the Government. 3) A balanced budget and creation of new sources of revenue. 4) Easier credit for farmers and artisans. 5) Lower prices and new markets. 6) Unemployment relief and restriction of child labor. 7) More education for the education-hungry Bulgarians. 8) Shorter and cheaper trials. 9) Recognition of Soviet Russia. 10) Redivision of Bulgaria into seven districts instead of 16 provinces. 11) A Parliament of 175 instead of 274 members, to be appointed by the Government and Fascist guilds.

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