Evening star., 1939-01-07
Polish Troops
Mass on Czech
Frontier
Truce HoIts Munkucs
Fight; AZ Reported
Killed in Battle
BACKGROUND

6AIh1noClNO-
The scene OF fighting be-
ttUeen Czech and Hungarian
forces has played an important
role in recent history of Central
Europe. Border city of Munkacs
1uas part of Ruthenia until No
Dember 2, ,0hen the italian and
German foreign ministers, as
mediatorS, awarded it to Hun
gary. The settlement shifted the
nationality of SeDeral blocs OF
ninorities, and there has been
sporadic outbnrSts OF Diolence
along the frontier.
By the Associated Press.
BUDAPEST, Jan. Thousands
of Hungarian troops moved up to-
ward the frontier city of Munkacs
today as an armed truce halted
bitter fighting between Czecho-Slo-
wax and Hungarian forces.
The truce was arranged after
day of fighting. in which Hun
garians said a dozen persons were
killed, and the quarrel was turned
over last night to political leaders
of the two countries.
Hungarians engaged in cleaning
up after the one-day battle an
nounced that 40 Czecho-Slovaks
and Z Hungarians had been killed.
The Hungarian dead included one
officer hit by a shell fragment at
the Hotel Osillag in Munkacs, the
town ceded to Hungary by Czecho-
Slovakia at the November 2 Vienna
arbitration award of Italy and Ger
many.
The official Hungarian report
added that 200 houses in Munkacs,
center of yesterdays battle, were
damaged by Czecho-Slovak she'll
frs.
Say Hostages Taken.
When the Czecho-Slovak forces
retreated, Hungarians declared,
they took hostages with them from
the Hungarian village of Oroszveg
which they occupied for few hours.
Czecho-Slovak artillery still COW
cred Munkacs, city of 10000, which
was ceded to Hungary recently in
the territory revision resulting from
the Munich agreement.
CThe Prague newspaper Ma
rodni Osvobozeni reported Polish
troops were maSSing along the
northern border of CZecho-Slo-
vakia. Several infantry regi-
ments, a cavalry regiment and a
machine gun detachment already
had occupied border posts, the
paper said, and additional forces
were expected this week.
New Attack Feared.
Residents of MunkacS were appre-
hensive the bombardment might be
resumed.
Crowds demanding revenge were
dispersed in several Hungarian
towns.
Officers of the Czecho-Slovak
general staff opened an investiga-
ton while Budapest and Prague
Sought to arrange the appointment
-of a mixed commission to fix respon-
sibility for the incident.
(Officials in Prague said they
knew of only one death. They
predicted quick settlement. The
Hungarian charge d'affairs there
demanded compensation for
damage to Munkacs and for the
lives of slain Hungarian troops.
Written Protest Made.
In a written protest, the Hungar-
ian government said:
1T must be pointed out that the
nnprovoked attacks on Munkacs
was preceded by deliberate prepara-
tions on the part of Czecho-Slo-
vakia which were supported by a
section of the foreign press.
The Hungarian government holds
the Czecho-Slovak government re-
sponsibile for loss of life and prop
erty damage incurred. And Hun
gary is obliged to take steps to as
sure prevention of repetition of
such surprises"
Neither side told the full story
Of what happened.
Bitter neighbors since the Vienna
convention gave Hungary a slice
of Czecho-Slovakia, the countries
have charged each other with re-
sponsibility for a succession of
raids which have disturbed the
frontier territory.
Prague has maintained Hungarian
trregulars (so-called Free Corps
mem were crossing the border to
create disturbances with the object
Of convincing the world the Car
patho- Ukraine Ruthenian) section
OF Czecho-Slovakia was incapable
Of self government.
I Hungary-in the face of German
pposition-wanteda common from
tier with Poland, Prague circles said,
and, therefore, sought to build up
4 case for the annexation of Car
patho-
Berlin Warns Frontier