FULL STORY OF KARL’S FAILURE

Dunstan Times, Issue 3101, 9 January 1922, Page 7

FULL STORY OF KARL’S FAILURE

(By A. A. Davidson).

The full story of the quick drama of Karl’s second attcimjt to retain the royal crown of Hungary is a strange mixture of military recklessness, cool thinking by staid, experienced politicians, fatal indecision, and failure to seize victory when it was almost within grasp. A different, complexion is also put on the whole affair, it having ben no mere dauntless assault by a devoted few. The Government was not calmly master of the situation all along, as official reports—hitherto the only source of information —would have had us believe. . , . TT Karl and his consort arrived in Hungarv by aeroplane on a Thursday -—not Friday, as originally stated —landing at the village of Dnesfa. Time was an clement all-important loi Karl, hut he wasted a L day at Dnesfa, and only on the following day proceeded to Odcnburg, where ho was received by his troops. Still wasting time. Karl gave a big banquet there, at which valiant speeches were delivered, and with many libations of champagne they toasted how successful their success would he when once they had succeeded. Iheir confidence was unbounded, and Kail was able to include in Cabinet such experienced men of affairs as Count Andrassv. an old political fighter, and Dr Gratz. a former Foreign Minister, with a si his Prime Minister, Rako\ sk\ , formerly President of the Hungarian Parliament. . ~ The troops, too, were in the best ol spirits, and everyone was so confident that on Sunday Count Mikes, Bishop o Steinamanger, announced to Ins congregation that Karl had entered Budapest in triumph. Certainly it was a near thing. Karl and his troops advanced quickly enough after the initial delay, being transported by rail until they, were at Budaoers', near the capital. Meantime, Budapest was almost convinced that Karl would succeed, and the Minister of Agriculture, Szaho, leader of the Anti-Hapsburg party, was

so alarmed that he sought refuge on board a French monitor lying in the Danube on Saturday night, fearing revenge would be meted out to him. On the whole the people were jubilant, being at heart Karlist, and hoping that when the Little Entente! were laced by the fait accompli of Karl’s restoration, they would not march in. The Budapest garrison consisted only of some 700 men, the rest of the army being at various stations and near West Hungary. Against this was an army of some 0000 men with some artillery. Then a member of Parliament, Julius Goemboes, stepped into the breach, and by a rousing speech stimulated the ardor of those students who believe in the Kossuth principles of 1849, and are anti-Austria and anti-Hapsburg. These rallied to the defence of Budapest, and by various means some sort of army was got together, which set out for Budaoers.

There was never any battle there, merely some loose shooting in which Karl’s train was hit several times; but several people were killed and Karl gave way. He always has been inclined to an amiable sort of pacifism, and on learning that ho could enter the capital'only as the-result of bloodshed, ho ordered a break-off of the fighting and retreat. Had he been only a little more ruthless lie would have entered Budapest, and the army, almost to a man, would have been with him

As it was, ho retreatedj followed by the Government scratch troops under General Nagy, in the hope'of fixing his headquarters in West Hungary and making a new attempt. The garrison at Raab, however, which had declared for the King, went over to the Government again, as did many other garrisons on hearing of Karl’s retreat, and Karl found himself cut off at Raab. Karl thereupon saw the game was up, and capitulated; beaten probably only by his two days delay. Karl and his consort are now prisoners of thq Government, and are to be interned jn the Benedictine Monastery on Lake Balaton, pending ah arrangement for his final asylum after his all but successful attempt. Main interest now centres on what will happen in Hungary and internationally. That the King was opposed in arms by men who had taken the oath of allegiance to him, and by officers who wore his uniform and orders, pains every patriotic Hungarian, even though he may not desire Karl’s return so long as the danger of war exists owing to that return. /

Internationally the situation will not be cleared until the Little Entente has demobilised.

It is feared that, under the excuse of claiming the costs of mobilisation from Hungary, which is very short of mqney, the Little Entente will insist on getting guarantees which may take tlie form of the occupation of the Burgenland, so giving Czecho-Slovakia and Jugo-Slavia the long-dreamed of corridor uniting them militarily and economically.