A SURPRISE FOR MACKENSEN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 142, 11 March 1919, Page 5

A SURPRISE FOR MACKENSEN

HOW HE WAS INTERNED. The Vienna correspondent of tho "Berliner Tngeblatt" gives the following account of the internment of Field Marshal von Mackensen and his staff-.—When. Marshal von Mackensen arrived at Budapest at noon he was received at the station by several officials of the War Office. Lieutenant-Colonel Zix, the head of tho French Military CommUsion, was also present and demanded that Field Marshal von Mackensen and his staff should be disarmed and interned at Bucharest. Marsha! von Mackensen protested, and a discussion lasting neaa'ly three hours ensued. At half-past four Major Gerce, of Hie Hungarian War Office, arrived, and addressing Marshal von Mackensen, sai;!: "T give you ten minutes for consiiWation. There is no holp for it." He then left, without waiting for the answer. Meanwhile all the necessary measures were taken at the station to prevent any attempt at night' by Field Marshal von Mackensen. Two hundred soldiers guarded tho entrances to the. station and six machine-guns wore placed in position. As an additional precaution the engine was uncoupled from the German military train. At the exniration of the ten minutes respite Field Marshal von Mackensen appeared at the door of the saloon carriage. He wore the Order "Pour lo j Merito," and was apparently deeply mov-, led. The process of disarming and internment then took place, but Marshal von Maokonsen sent a 6trong protest to the I Hungarian Government.