NEW OUTBREAK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 73, 28 March 1939, Page 9

NEW OUTBREAK.

I FIGHTING RESUMED. Slovak-Hungarian Conflict Reported. BELIEVED HEAVY CASUALTIES. United Press Association—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 27. Despite the agreement of Saturday the Slovak-Hungarian hostilities were resumed at noon yesterday and continued till late last night, says a Bratislava message. The possession oi two strategic border hills is disputed. Casualties are believed to be heavy. Staff officers vainly attempted to stop the fighting. Slovak political circles allege that the Hungarians are seeking to occupy- as much territory as possible in order to evert pressure during negotiations to delimit the frontier. Negotiations will open at Budapest to-day between representatives of the two Governments. It is officially stated at Budapest that Hungarian civilian and military casualties in border incidents over the week-end numbered 23 killed, 55 wounded, and 360 Slovak and' 211 Czecho-Moravian soldiers were taken prisoner. Hungarian regulars crossed the southern frontier of Slovakia, says another message. It is officially stated in Budapest that in the recent fighting on the border the Hungarians brought down 14 Slovak aeroplanes. Slovak bombers killed 17 people and wounded 52 in Ruthenian towns and villages.

VAIN PARLEYS. Slovakian And Hungarian Delegates. FRONTIER INDEFINITE. (Received 1 p.m.) BRATISLAVA, March 27. Hungarian and Slovak delegates held a conference for two hours, but without progress, towards an agreement. The Slovaks insisted that the eastern frontier must be that fixed between Slovakia and Ruthenia in 102 G. The Hungarians declared that much territory west of that was Ruthenian because the 1926 frontier was based on administrative expediency and not an ethnographic, economic or strategic principles. The Slovak Defence Ministry announced that fighting has died down, but there were several small clashes. Five classes of the Air Force, three anti-aircraft reservist classes, and all classes of Air Force mechanics and technicians have been called up. All experienced pilots are invited to volunteer. A Budapest communique says Slovaks violated the Hungarian frontier on Sunday at three points. Eight Slovaks were killed and seven taken prisoner. It adds that the Slovaks repeatedly attacked at a fourth point to-day but were driven back.