BID FOR THRONE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1921, Page 5

BID FOR THRONE.

EPISODE IN HUNGARY.

DRAMATIC ADVENTURE. STORY OF THE BATTLE. S .. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. London, Oct. 27. The Budapest correspondent of the Daily Express supplies the first full account of the dramatic events of the past 36 hours. Karl’s forces never exceeded 4000 and in the final battles he had only 800 men in the firing line. Three battalions of the Budapest garrison were engaged with four companies of Karlists, who lay entrenched behind the crest of a hill. There was never any hand-to-hand fighting; the action was fought with machine-guns and rifles. Stray shots fell in the streets of Budapest. Karl doubtless hoped to get Budapest without a fight. During the action he was 1000 yards behind the line watching the fight through field-glasses. The exEmpress Zita was at his side clasping his hand and praying for success. When a wounded Royalist was brought in she left her husband for a moment to offer a prayer over the dying man. When Admiral Horthy’s reinforcements were brought up both, sides saw the leader advance with a white flag. The officers of the Government troops responded and a parley was held in the railway signalling station. The Government's conditions were that if Karl renounced his rights to the throne he could live with his family at the Royal castle of Godallo, near Budapest. He would be treated with honor, but must surrender.

Karl refused the condition and the Monarchists began to retire. A downfall of rain prevented further fighting that night. Karl shared with his consort a second-class railway carriage with broken windows.

Next morning part of Karl’s forces entrained and others retired by road. AdnJral Horthy’s battalions followed, but were careful to avoid contact with the Karlists, who had now become a broken rabble and began to surrender until they had not a hundred men left. Karl held a final council at which Count Andrassy, Dr. Gratz, and Herr Rakovsky were present. The King said: “Dear friends, I cannot ask you for more. The game is We will await our fate calmly here.” The five then awaited the arrival of Horthy’s troops and surrendered and were escorted to Count Ester hazy’s castle. REFUSAL TO HAND KARL OVER. London, Oct. 27. Advices from Prague state that the question of Karl’s fate has assumed a new aspect, in consequence of the Hungarian Regent and Premier announcing that the constitution does not allow them to surrender him to the Allies or to the Little Entente. Meantime, the latter has issued an ultimatum demanding Karl’s delivery within 48 hours, also a guarantee for disarmament and full indemnity for the costs of mobilisation. Paris, Oct. 27.

The resources of* Karl’s suite are so limited that they are living from hand to mouth. They have not sufficient money to leave Switzerland. The majority’ of the Crown jewels are pledged to Swiss banks.

The Ambassadors’ Conference has decided that Karl should be taken on board the British gunboat at Budapest to await a decision as to his place of interament. Vienna, Oct. 27.

The request of the British and French Governments to the Little Entente to cease military preparations, as the Karl incident has’ended, is causing deep annoyance in Belgrade and Prague, where it is asserted that England and France show far more leniency to Hungary than ia desirable in the interests of European peace. HEALTH BROKEN DOWN. Received Oet. 28, 53 p.m. Vienna, Oct. 27. Count Andrassy, Rakovsky, and Crate have bo*n handed over for trial. Karl s health has broken down. He is weepinp continuously, and only eatinp slops served by the' ex-Empress.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DEBTS OF EX-EMPRESS , Received Oct. 28, 8.10 p.m. London. Oct. 27. Karl's wife owes £lOO,OOO in Switzerland. She had been living at the rate of £40,000 a year.