AUSTRIA & HUNGARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3522, 13 September 1921, Page 18

AUSTRIA & HUNGARY

PLOT TO RESTORE MONARCHY. LONDON', September 6. There are grave reports of shootings and plunderings in the Western Provinces by well-equipped Hungarian irregular bands armed with machine guns. The Royalist flag lias been raised at Szombathe! y, which is the centre of a plot to restore ex-Kmperor Karl to the throne. The plotters have instituted a campaign of terrorism in the Western Provinces. The Austrian police are powerless, and retreated after the Hungarians had seized a number of Austrian officials. It is reported that Karl is being urged to make a dramatic entry into the scene of the disorders.

SERIOUS FIGHTING REPORTED. VIENNA, September 6. Serious fighting is occurring between the Austrians and Hungarians in the neighbourhood of Kirksehlag. The Hungarians crossed the frontier and occupied the village, the Austrian gendarmerie retiring. The population took panic. There were several hours’ fighting and many casualties. TREATY TERMS MUST BE OBSERVED. BUDAPEST, September T. The Allied Note, which was presented to the Government, demands that Hungary shall energetically observe the provisions of the Peace Treaty. The Note places the responsibility for recent events m Western Hungary on the Government, whose reply will disclaim responsibility’ and blame the insurgents. THE BURGENLAND DISPUTE. PARIS, September 7. The Austrians have reoccupied Kirksehlag. Advices from Vienna state that the Hungarian Minister handed to the Austrian Chancellor a Note declaring that the Hungarian Government was ready formally to hand over Burgenland to the Entente Mission, and to recognise Austria’s sovereignty over it, but not to evacuate the territory until negotiations have ended. Austria, however, declines to negotiate until Burgenland is handed over. The Czecho-Slovakian Legation at Vienna states that Czecho-Slovakia is prepared to send troops to West Hungary if Austria and the Conference of Ambassadors desire it. VIENNA, September 9. A semi-official message declares that the Austro-Hungarian situation has taken a serious turn in consequence of the Hungarian insurgents capturing Agendorf, and threatening Mattersdorf, the temporary seat of the Austrian Government. The latter has now withdrawn to Wiener Neustadt. September 10. Regular Hungarian troops supported by cavalry attacked the village of Agendorf in force and the Austrians withdrew. Apparently the attack is a prelude to im portant operations, as eight Hungarian columns are converging on the disputed zone.