BUDAPEST REGIME

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

BUDAPEST REGIME

Increased Mobilization Intended LONDON, October 16. Dispatches to the Swedish Press from Berlin report that German troops, armed with machineguns and artillery, have taken over all the official buildings and the communication service in Budapest. The dispatches added that the German counter-measures in the event of the defection of Hungary were planned in advance and carried out with great speed.

Budapest radio announced that Szalasi had dismissed the commanders of the First and Second Hungarian Armies. The radio detailed curfew hours and announced a law against the assembly of crowds and the uso of motor-vehicles.

A proclamation attributed to Admiral Horthy, broadcast from Budapest radio in Hungarian and German tonight, ordered Hungarians to fight on against the enemies of Hungary and Germany. The radio then announced Horthy’s resignation thus: “I have decided at this most serious hour of Hungary’s history to resign the Regency. I have asked Ferenc Szalasi to form a Government of national unity.” The announcer, after each of these news items, read Horthy’s name as a signature to them. The radio announced that Szalasi said: “In view of the exceptional situation and circumstances. Admiral Horthy agreed that I,' as Premier, should exercise the powers of Regent. The least delay will bring serious harm and peril to Hungary.” Szalasi then named, the new councillors and members of Cabinet. A German version of the message which purported to come from Horthy was read by a German with a clipped military accent, says a Reuter correspondent. The proclamation attributed to Horthy stated in part: “I hereby declare my proclamation of October 15 null and void.” New Anti-Jewish Decrees.

Another radio proclamation that Szalasi intended to carry out total mobilization of the country’s resources, and Hungarian soldiers at the front were promised that reinforcements and war equipment would reach them very soon. The Government has already imposed drastic measures, including a number of anti-Jewisb decrees. During the reading of the proclamation Budapest radio was interrupted several times by air-raid warnings. A Berlin radio commentator, von Schroeder, said : “The events in Budapest represent a complete victory for Hungary aud Germany. Hungary did not want to be Bolshevized. The broadcast on Sunday. which was allegedly made by Admiral Horthy, was delivered against Horthy’s will. The small group responsible has now been eliminated. There will be no recurrence of ' Sunday's events. The change iu Hungary means that all negotiations with the western Powers and Russia have ended.” It is reported from Berne, Switzerland, that Hungarian troops have been marching toward Budapest and are preparing to try to drive the Germans and their Hungarian supporters from the capital (says a British Oflicial Wireless message). If anything like that is happening, the Russians will be able to advance quickly from their positions which, when they last reported them, were 60 or 70 miles to the east and south-east on the River Tisza. Trustworthy news of such developments must, however, be awaited from Moscow. Similarly, Admiral Horthy’s reported announcement that he had requested the Allies for armistice terms still awaits confirmation. Hungary being in the Russian sphere of operations, it is for Moscow to issue news about any move for an armistice.

The violent tone of the German broadcasts about Hungary leaves ■no doubt whatever that the Government acted yesterday against Germany, and in such an action, in all probability, took the army with them. In the next few days events are likely to move fast. A message from Washington quotes the American Under-Secretary of State. Mr. Stettinius. as saying that the British, American and Soviet Governments and their representatives on the European Advisory Commission were carefully studying the terms of the Hungarian armistice proposal. He added that he did uot have any information on the general prospect of getting Hungary out of the war. Flying columns of Russian Cossacks are co-operating with Soviet Army tank formations in the battle raging on the Hungarian plains. A Moscow dispatch says both horsemen and tanks are being used to harass the Gorman and Hungarian troops on their flanks and rear. Berlin radio said that (he new Hungarian Government includes seven members of the Cabinet who are members of the Fascist Arrow Cross Party.