FULL GERMAN APPROVAL

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14092, 25 March 1939, Page 5

FULL GERMAN APPROVAL

THE HUNGARIAN INVASION SLOVAKIANS PUT UP STIFF FIGHT. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. BRATISLAVA, Alarch 23. A Budapest message says that diplomatic quarters state that the Hungarian invaders acted with Germany’s approval. It is reported that Germany sanctioned the invasion in an effort to stampede the Slovaks into a more binding agreement with Germany. Official quarters in Berlin refuse to comment beyond pointing out that the Hungarians probably crossed the very vague and doubtful frontier between Ruthenia and Slovakia and will return when they discover their mistake. A Bratislava communique says that the Slovak troops put up a stiff fight against the invaders. Slovak airmen machine-gunned the Hungarians and put two battalions to flight. Aircraft continue to patrol by means of flares. Many Hungarians have been killed and wounded.

A communique issued by the Defence Ministry states that the Hungarian troops which invaded Slovakia consisted of three columns, totalling four infantry battalions, one bicycle company, and one motorised regiment, including tanks. At 5.30 a.m. the Hungarians had penetrated deeply £yid at 2.30 p.m. the advance had been stopped. It Could probably be held pending the arrival of reinforcements

It is officially stated that Slovakia has protested against the Hungarian invasion. It was pointed out that Hungarian troops are intruding upon Slovak territory. The Hungarian Foreign Alinister, Count Csaky, promised an investigation, and added that Slovakia’s eastern frontier is inexactly defined and that therefore there was no possibility of local incidents, but there was no question of organised military operations. A communique declares that reports that the Hungarians are operating upon Germany's invitation or with her acquiescence are untrue. It is officially announced in Budapest that the Hungarian troops in Ruthenia have occupied some points west of the River Ung Valley with the object of safeguarding the railway and the Slovak-Ruthenian frontier, which has never been properly delineated. Hungary is asking Slovakia to establish rt joint boundary commission to regulate the frontier.