Evening star., 1937-08-08
BY EMIL LENGYEL.


Horthy de Nagybanya, with royal
rights, which make him king in all
but the title. He is responsible to no
one except himself, and only death
can part him from his high ONCE.
The new law gives him sweeping veto
rights over legislation and authority
to recommend his successor. This
merely to Hungary but also to the
whole of Central Europe. 1t means
that the House Of Hapsburg has lost
whatever chances 1t may have had OF
recovering its throne in the Budapest
royal palace.
On August 20 Hungary's great ma
tional holiday, Horthy will appear as
Hungary's uncrowned king for the
first time. Then he will head COL
orful procession. when tens of thou
sands pay homage to the Magyar
Kingdoms founder. st. Stephen,
whose withered hand, religious relic.
will be displayed to reverent visitors
from all over the country. On that
day Hungary will also pay homage
10 new sovereign.
Although Regent Governor Horthy
is approaching 70. years seem to lie
lightly on his shoulders. His is the
assurance of man used to ruling
over his fellow men. The healthy
color of his unwrinkled face is due to
his interest in sports. Foreign not
ables, invited to his shooting box.
speak highly of him as huntsman.
He still excels as gentleman rider.
In his leisure moments he plays the
piano or indulges in his hobby OF
drawing. His appearance is aristo-
cratic
Fluent Linguist.
With English and American visitors
he chats in their own language, which
he speaks with a Mayfair drawl His
German sounds as il it had been his
native tongue. and no better French
is spoken anywhere. He speaks flu
emily in Italian and manages to talk
with Balkan visitors in their own
Slavic The military and naval books
in his library are in half dozen
languages.
Horthy has been the head Of a state
longer than any other uncrowned ruler
in the world-longer than Mussoliri
and much longer than Stain. After
II years in the fascinating royal palace
on top OF Fortress Hill he has become
a Hungarian institution His life has
been succession of adventures. Be
fore the war he lived in the very
shadow of imperial power. When Cen
tral Europes end was near he COM
manded the fleet of the Austro-Hun-
gafian monarchy. 1t was he who turned
the Hapsburg realms navy over to the
enemy in obedience to allied command
After the war Rear Admiral Horthy
was headed for oblivion as a national
hero on half pay But he found his
way to power and In the Spring Of
1920 he became Hungarys regent
governor. Hardly had he settled down
to a strenuous rule when his former
master, the King, called to claim his
crown, and Horthy had to turn him
out Of the palace.
Shuns Publicity.
Since then he has been consolidat-
ing his position. Prime ministers have
come and gone, but he has stayed on.
Although he has played historic role
for the last 20 years, much less has
been written about him than about
more ephemeral rulers. He is the least
least frequently mentioned in news
paper dispatches. His aversion to pub
llcity Is we'll known. His work has been
done mostly behind the scenes.
Today he is key man of Europe.
Some time ago he paid visit to Hit
Ter, and more recently the King OF
Italy paid visit to him. He has
received the leading statesmen Of Cen
trail Europe in audience. His country
is thought to be planning the open
reputation of the peace treaty, fol-
lowing the lead Of Germany and Aus
tria. Hungary already has. an army
and her feighbors, members of the
little entente, are apprehensive. Is
Horthy really an ally OF Hitler? Is
he grooming his country for war?
What is the guiding thought Of his
life. Before attempting the answers
we must see something Of his back
ground.
1t was because Of family tragedy |,
that Nicholas Horthy joined the navy
After his elder brother. Bella, a naval
cadet, had lost his life in an accident
at a maneuver, Nicholas insisted on
carrying on in his place. Following his |
graduation from the Fiume Naval
Academy and an eventful cruise in the
Pacific, he was plunged into the midst
Of events on board the imperial and
royal armored yacht Taurus, anchored
in the Golden Horn of Constantinople
Interests King.
The ship was attached to the Austro-
Hungarian Embassy in the Turkish !
capital, one of its duties being to pro-
vide place of refuge and means Of
transportation for the Embassy person.
mel in case of trouble ashore, Of which |
there was plenty. Horthy was on duty
in the Bosphorus when the Young
Turks revolution made history in 1908.
The secret archives of the marine divi-
sion of the ex-imperial and royal war
ministry preserve his 28 reports on the
critical situation. Horthy's career was
made when Franz josef, Emperor Of
Austria and King Of Hungary, decided
that he liked the analytical power OF
the author of the reports.
In November, 1909, Horthy was sum-
moned to duty in Vienna as an aide
de-camp to the Emperor-King. This
was a highly coveted position, close to
the mighty old man who had out
lived nearly all his subjects, living
legend, a chapter Of animated history.
1t was also an exacting position. The
adjutant had to be up and around at
4 o'clock in the morning, Winter and
Summer, rain or shine, as the monarch
was at his desk at 5.
Few people could do justice to such
task, and if they failed, their careers