Has Horthy Recanted ?

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 7

Has Horthy Recanted ?

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October ,1 7, 11,40 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1 7. The “Daily Express” says that civil war is raging in Hungary, and the German-controlled Government has imposed martial law. An unconfirmed report earlier stated that Hungarian troops were moving to oust the Germans and Szalazi’s Hungarian Nazis who occupied the capital. Budapest radio yesterday broadcast proclamations claimed to have been signed by Admiral Horthy resigning the Regency in favour of Szalasi, and telling the Hungarians to fight on at Germany’s side. There is, however, no reliable news about Horthy’s attitude to events. Telephone communication between Berlin and Budapest has been interrupted since Saturday morning.

Berlin says that both the Russian and'German armies are still reinforcing in the great tank battle which is still raging on the Hungarian Plain. The Germans say that both tank armies are trying to outflank each other with far-reaching movements. Moscow reports the German loss of another 160 tanks on the eastern front —the daily average for about a week. The “Daily Mail” asks what caused Horthy to reverse his decision and says: “Earlier reports said that he had shut himself in Budapest Castle with several thousand troops and was defying the Nazis. He is believed to haw expected the swift German reaction to the request to the Allies for an armistice and therefore planned accordingly. Now the inference is that something went wrong; that the Germans moved too fast for him, and that he was forced to issue thp latest proclamation under penalty of death.” The Arrow Cross Party does not command wide support, the “Mail”. says, and could not'have seized power without the help of German troops. It remains to be seen how long the Germans can keep Hungary in the war under the unpopular’ regime and agaiust the relentless pressure of the IJed Army. Bela Imredy is really the brain among the' Hungarian psp-Nazis, and it ’is believed he. is using Szalasi as a figurehead. Enmity has existed for years between Horthy and Szalasi.