DEFECTIONS BY RUSSIANS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 22

DEFECTIONS BY RUSSIANS

Hungarians' Fight For Freedom

DESCRIPTION BY REFUGEE

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 18.

How he had seen Russian troops fighting in Hungary on the side of the “freedom fighters” was described in Dunedin by a young Hungarian truck driver who today arrived in the city with six other refugees. “Ninety per cent, of the . Russian troops stationed in Hungary fought on the side of the Hungarians.” said 34-year-old Mr L. Sagi, eldest of the party of single men. when he was interviewed with the aid of an interpreter.

In the early stages of the fighting in Budapest, he had seen Russian troops, who had been stationed in Hungary, give up their tanks to the “freedom fighters.” said Mr Sagi. Other tanks flew the Hungarian flag and had Russian crews. “On one occasion, four Russian tanks came to a corner, and the major got out,” said Mr Sagi. “ ‘What are we doing here?’ he asked. He then handed over the four tanks, of the heavy T 34 type, to the Hungarians. The Russians then set out for the Austrian border.”

Mr Sagi said he had seen “White Russian troops” firing on other Soviet soldiers. During the early fighting in Budapest, he drove his truck to and from supply depots, carrying munitions, food, and wounded “freedom fighters.” Later he escaped in his truck by driving it across the Austrian border with 40 refugees aboard. Mongolian Troops

“It was a far different and gloomier story later on.” said Mr Sagi. “The Russians brought in Mongolian troops who, when they arrived, were so ignorant that they wanted to know where the Suez Canal and the Americans were. They had no idea what the fighting was about, but they had orders to shoot, and they shot everything in heaps.” Mr Sagi said he had spoken to a Russian soldier in Budapest. He could speak Russian because he had spent four years in a prison camp in the Soviet Union. It was necessary for the Russian troops moving in from Mongolia, Czechoslovakia, and Rumania to come into contact with the Hungarians, as food supplies had been cut off.

“The ‘freedom fighters’ could expect no mercy from the troops which came later,” said Mr Sagi. “Mr Maleter, Minister of Defence in the Nagy Government, went to the Russian commander in Budapest to talk over the terms of the evacuation of Russian troops. At 10 p.m. on November 3, Mr Maleter and his companion were taken prisoner. At 5 p.m. on November 4, 1200 Russian tanks rolled into Budapest. “This act of treachery made the Hungarian people very bitter, and t-o the saying was born. ‘Die, or out with the Russians.’ ” said Mr Sagi. “Hungary knows that she has no chance of victory, but the people are ready to die to show the world there is no trust in the Russians, and that the free world should be made aware of this.

“It was not only the workers of Hungary who wanted freedom, but

the students, who received everything from the Government, as well. Ten and 12-year-old boys are fighting the Russians with the methods they were taught to us against Fascism’,” said Mr Sagi.