HUNGARY AND RUMANIA

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 5

HUNGARY AND RUMANIA

Both Countries Man Frontiers MEN STILL BEING CALLED UP German Equipment For Hungarians (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received March 21, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. Hungarian and Rumanian troops are now face to face on the western and north-western frontiers of Rumania, says the Budapest correspondent of The Times. Poland has intervened through diplomatic channels, but the outlook is not encouraging. Hungary’s partial mobilization continues, but a computation of the numbers called up is impossible. Complete mobilization may shortly be decreed.

German and Italian material brought into Hungary during 1938 includes 5000 trucks and thousands of motor-cars capable of mounting machine-guns. Brand-new infantry equipment has come apparently from Austria. The morale of the troops, however, is poor, and the men are dejected.

Perhaps five per cent, of the total population has been called to the Colours. Cars and farm wagons have everywhere been requisitioned, and railway passenger traffic is disorganized.

Everything is directed against Rumania.

There is no sign of alarm in Bucharest, says the Independent Cable Service. King Carol’s advisers have told him that there is no cause to fear an immediate attack from Herr Hitler or Hungary.

An inspired statement issued in Budapest explaining the Hungarian military measures says: “In view of the Rumanian concentration of frontier forces in addition to the normal effectives, Hungary has taken similar measures, which are the customary reply to unusual troop movements in neighbouring countries.” HUNGARIAN DENIAL The Hungarian Legation in Paris denies any concentration of Hungarian troops on the Rumanian frontier and adds that some men have been called up to reinforce the regiments sent to occupy Ruthenia.

The Evening Standard says the belief is growing in London that German military action against Rumania is unlikely at present for three reasons: — (1) The roads and railways of the Carpatho-Ukraine are inadequate. (2) The Iron Guard (Rumanian fascist organization) is now impotent. (3) No efforts have been made to

foment trouble with the German and Hungarian minorities in Rumania. It is officially announced in Budapest that Hungary has completed the occupation of Ruthenia. It is declared that the Hungarians and the CarpathoUkrainians will henceforth have equal status as free citizens. There will be no religious discrimination. The Ruthenians are not likely to be placed under minority status. Two thousand Czech officials and soldiers are held up at Chust, the Ruthenian capital, and are unable to go to Prague. The leader of the Ruthenian Free Corps, Colonel Demetrius Klempus, is reported to have been killed from an ambush.

BRITISH MISSION TO RUMANIA POSSIBLE COUNTER TO NAZI TRADE MOVES (Received March 21, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 20. Britain’s decision to send a trade mission to Rumania was announced in the House of Commons by the President of the Board of Trade (the Hon. Oliver Stanley). When a member drew Mr Stanley’s attention to the efforts of Germany to intimidate Rumania in trade matters, Mr Stanley replied that that was another very good reason for sending the mission. Official quarters in Berlin allege that the report of a German economic ultimatum to Rumania last Saturday was merely a London manoeuvre to disturb the current trade talks in Bucharest between Germany and Rumania. Rumania has signed a trade agreement with Russia for the exchange of Rumanian cattle, hogs, hides and leather for Russian tractors and lorries. It is understood that only a little oil will be available to Germany under the new agreement. It will be obtainable through normal commercial channels. British, American and other foreign organizations control the bulk of the exportable supplies. ITALY “JUST WAITING FOR WAR” “LOW-DOWN CHAMPIONS ON OTHER SIDE” ROME, March 20. Dr Virginio Gayda (“the mouthpiece of Mussolini”) writing in his newspaper Giorriale d’ltalia says: “Italy is not hastening her war programme but she is, nevertheless, not afraid of war. In fact, she is just waiting for it to break out. Her one desire is to meet face to face those lowdown champions on the other side of the barricades who are shouting from the beer halls of Paris, after having counted on paper the millions of men and thousands of guns with which Britain, the United States and possibly the Soviet, might defend their territory.”