TISO AS PRESIDENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1939, Page 5

TISO AS PRESIDENT

CARPATHO=UKRAINE INCORPORATED GERMAN MILITARY ACTION. RESIGNATION OF CZECH CABINET. LONDON. March 14. Slovakia was declared an independent State today. Dr. Tiso has been proclaimed President and M. Durcansky has been appointed Foreign Minister. Carpatho-Uk-raine is incorporated in Slovakia. A Prague message states that the Czech Cabinet has resigned. Communications between Prague and Bratislava have been severed. Messages from Berlin state that little opposition is expected to German military action in Slovakia. It is considered' that the German border garrisons in Bohemia and Moravia are of such strength that there will be no need for reinforcements. . The general expectation is that the Germans will move via Brunn along the proposed German motor road and create a corridor separating Bohemia and Moravia and Slovakia ana Ruthenia, thus isolating the Czechs and preventing constant' border incidents. Reports from Prague state that the Czech rpechanised forces which arrived in Bratislava on March 9 are drawn up in formation ready to depart, suggesting their acceptance of Herr Hitler’s demands. . The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says that a high Slovak source stated that German troops are expected to occupy today Brunn and Iglau and probably other towns on th? mixed language belt having large German minorities.

appeal to hitler SLOVAKS ASK FOR HELP AGAINST CZECHS. BERLIN, March 14. The Slovak Government has tel,e- -’ graphed to Herr Hitler seeking help against the Czechs. GERMAN TROOPS LARGE NUMBERS LEAVING FOR BRUNN, (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) VIENNA, March 14. Large numbers of German troops are leaving Vienna for Brunn. forty divisions MOVING TO CZECH BORDERS. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, March 14. It is understood that forty divisions of troops are moving throughout the Reich. It is estimated that fifteen divisions are en route to the Czech borders and the remainder await orders pending developments in the Lzecn $ The general impression in informed quarters is that the troops will move into Slovakia tonight, after an tum to the Czechs to evacuate. Hug movements of troops have almo . brought to a standstill traffic Vienna.

ACTION BV HUNGARY CZECH BORDER CROSSED. ADVANCE ON~WIDE FRONT. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) BUDAPEST, March 14.

Alleging that Czech troops fired on th?m across the border, Hungarian troops advanced and occupied Oerhegyalja. They took a number of prisoners. Oerhegyalja is close to Munkacevo, which was ceded to Hi gary after the Munich Conference. Firing continues. , , „ A later message states that Hungary has sent an ultimatum to Prague, demanding an answer within twelve hours, agreeing to the immediate release of all Hungarian prisoners m Czechoslovakia and allowing the Hungarian minority, to organise for selfdefence and to carry arms; also that Czechoslovakian troops must evacuate Ruthenia within twenty-four hours. The Note’s friendly reference to Slovakia is tantamount to a declaration of solidarity with that territory. Later it was officially announced that Hungarian troops marching into the Carpathian Ukraine on an eighteenrnile front are meeting occasional re-

sistance. A message from Prague reports that it is semi-officially stated that eighty Carpathian Ukrainian (Rutheman) National Guard members and thirty Czech soldiers were injured during an abortive ris n' r in Chust, organised by the Nation I Guard. The leaders fled to Rumania, destroying a customs house with grenades and cutting telephone lines. Czech troops are withdrawing from the Ruthcnian Hungarian frontier. Polish troop movements are reported on the northern Ruthcnian frontier. PREMIER’S APPEAL HELP SOUGHT FROM GERMANY. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.t BERLIN. March 14. M. Votosin. the Carpathian Ukrainian Premier, has requested help from Germany and Italy, as guarantors of the Vienna award, explaining that Hungarian troops had crossed the frontier.

POLISH DISCLAIMER (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) WARSAW, March 14. It is officially stated that Poland has no claims on Slovakia or Ruthenia, and there is no possibility of troops moving in. FIGHTING EXTENDS HUNGARY KEEPING TOUCH. WITH GERMANY AND ITALY. ■ (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) , BUDAPEST, March 14. Fighting has extended along the entire Ruthenian frontier, and the [Hungarians have occupied many Ruthenian villages and towns and hoisted their flags. The Regent, Admiral Horthy, conferred with the Italian and German Ministers to Hungary this morning, in the presence of the Foreign Minister and the Chief of Staff.