Crisis in Hungary and Slovakia

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 208, 2 September 1944, Page 5

Crisis in Hungary and Slovakia

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Friday, 8 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 1. Bulgaria yesterday sealed the Turk-ish-Bulgariau frontier, says a message from Istanbul. Bucharest wholeheartedly welcomed the Red Army which marched in yesterday, said the Moscow radio. Crowds lining the streets pelted the troops with flowers. Exemplary order was maintained throughout the procession. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that with the Rumanian armistice delegation at present in Moscow the Russians’ entry into Bucharest was the only thing required to complete the Rumanian campaign. The formal “cease fire’’ cannot long be delayed. The Red Army is now expected to turn on Hitler’s flank in smashing blows designed to end German power in the Balkans. The Russians are already nearly Bulgaria’s self-appointed frontier in Southern Dubruja, south of the Danube. Big forces are moving up in readiness to smash through Transylvania. The Russians’ aim is to force Hungary to take Rumania’s road out of the war—with the difference that any set of rulers in Budapest seems likely to have a much harder journey. The Russians’ 12-day offensive in the south has achieved tremendous results. Rumania has been forced to revise her position, the Germans have been deprived of oil from Ploesti and German groupings of, it is estimated, 23 divisions have been given shattering blows. The Germans still in Rumania are fighting hard wherever possible but now cannot hope to slow up the Red Army. ALL OF SLOVAKIA IN REVOLT All of Slovakia is in revolt, according to a radio statement made by the puppet President, Father Tiso, from Bratislava. Father Tiso said that a few foreign agitators have succeeded in seducing many people, including army groups, Government officials, fanners, and artisans to join the general •uprising. It is believed that Czechoslovak troops in the Soviet Union have been parachuted into Slovakia to coordinate the resistance forces. Father Tiso said: “Foreign agitators have used rumours to bolster up the rage of the population. For that reason the Slovakian Government is faced with the wholesale destruction of private property and had to call on the German army to march in to pacify the country.” He appealed to those who had given up arms to surrender and give information about the partisans, when they would go unpunished. The Defence Minister and the Commander-in-Chief, who followed Tiso, admitted that complete battalions of Slovak troops had joined the partisans. The commander of the Czech forces in Slovakia has announced that the Czechs are holding almost the entire territory of Slovakia, except the western and eastern border areas. The German News Agency has announced what the Daily Telegraph describes as another Balkan crisis. The Croat commander-in-chief, MajorGeneral Tshanitch, and the Ministers of the Interior, war and Communic&tions have been replaced and a new police chief of Zagreb has also been appointed. NAZIS TIGHTEN GRIP ON HUNGARY The Algiers radio announced that German troops have seized all strategic points in Budapest. German machinegunners are guarding all the official buildings. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says the Germans’ seizure of Budapest has placed Hungary completely in German charge. The replacement of the Sztojay Government by the unknown General Lakatos can now be seen as the bridge leading to the present situation. The Germans had to hold Hungary. It is the largest foodproducing country left to Germany and the last remaining source for oil.