THE FRONTIER CLASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 11

THE FRONTIER CLASH

HUNGARIANS AND CZECHS APPEAL FOR SETTLEMENT BUDAPEST, Dec. 20. The authorities allege that Czech Customs officers provoked the frontier incident. The Slovaks are reported to be appealing to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini for a settlement. A previous message stated: The Vienna correspondent of The Times says that an official message from Bratislava states that an Hungarian regular and irregular force engaged Czechoslovak soldiers at Slanek, in Eastern Czechoslovakia. The irregulars opened fire, the regulars reinforcing them. They occupied the villages of Muzmise, Silvas, Slanek and K'alsa, but the Czechoslovaks threw them out with the loss of two Customs officers and one wounded soldier. As a result of the clash the Slovak Frontier Commission has been ordered to interrupt its negotiations with Hungary regarding demarcation until satisfaction is obtained. FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY COMMISSION MEETS BRATISLAVA, Dec. 21. (Received Dec. 21, at 10 p.m.) A mixed Slovak-Hungarian commission met to fix responsibility for the frontier fighting. It is officially stated from Slovak quarters that the Hungarian Government is behind the outbreak, for which there will be no further negotiations over the frontier until peace is guaranteed. It is declared that Slovakia is quite capable of defending herself with her forces.