Bastion of Balkan Defence

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 22 March 1944, Page 5

Bastion of Balkan Defence

RUMANIA CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY HELD Received Tuesday, 8 p.m. LONDON, March 20. Hungarian troops are reported to have resisted when the Germans marched in, says the Stockholm Svenska Dagbladet’s Beme correspondent. Reports from Budapest state that the Germans invaded Hungary from the north and all communication from Budapest with the outside world is closing up, according to messages from neutral capitals, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. The Hungarian Legation in Stockholm all day was unable to communicate with Hungary by telephone. The Hungarian News Agency to-night did rot issue its usual news bulletin from Budapest. The Associated Press’s Berne correspondent says indirect confirmation of the occupation came from the Berlin Foreign Office, an official of which said the Germans were striving to coordinate all their resources and forces in Southeast Europe against the common Russian threat. The Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung’s Berlin correspondent says the surprising reticence of Berlin indicates that military events are in progress which will not apply only to Hungary. The Times’ diplomatic correspondent says the shattering of the Ukrainian fronts has called for urgent measures. Hungary must become the base for the Balkan defence. Rumania is undefendable and with the use of Hungarian railways the Ruthenian hills on Hun gary’s northern frontier may provide some barrier, but the Germans evidently believe the Hungarian troops need stiffening. The German invasion of Hungary followed Kallay’s rejection of the demands put to him last week by the German Minister at Eudapest, says the Stockholm Svenska Dagbladet’s Bergen correspondent. The demands were: Firstly: Hungary must be totally mobilised. Secondly: Occupation troops must be sent to Yugoslavia. Thirdly: Workers must he sent to Germany. Fourthly: Increased export of food and materials to Germany. Kallay rejected the demands outright. On Thursday the German Minister told Kallay that the danger of the Russian advance necessitated the protection of Hungarian territory and, as tho Hungarians could not do this, German troops should occupy strategic points. Tho Minister asked Admiral Horthy (the Regent) to go to Hitler’s head quarters to discuss the situation, hut it. is impossible to say if Horthy approved the German action or if Hitler forced him to consent. It is reported that six German divisions have so far entered Hungary. The Stockholm Morgen Tidningen’s Berlin correspondent says German troops first entered Hungary on Sunday. The former Premier Imredy is reported to have turned quisling and seized power to pave the way for the Germans. The Vichy radio states that the Hungarian Parliament will meet on Wednesday.