Evening star., 1946-07-14
U. 5. Troops on Alert
After Two YugosIavs
Are Killed in Clash
BY the Associoted Press

TRIESTE, July 1.-Two Yugo-
slav soldiers were killed by an
American patrol last night in
brief skirmishes near the Nor
gan Line, and today American
troops in the area of the zonalI
boundary were placed on the
alert.
The American 88th Division an
nounced that two separate Yugoslav
patrols opened fire on the American
patrol investigating a Yugoslav vio-
lation of the Morgan Line. The
line divides Yugoslav and American
British zones of occupation in dis
puted Venezia Giulia.
The announcement from Division
headquarters in Gorizia said the
skirmishes flared when Yugoslavs
crossed the Morgan Line near Aur-
isina in the Isonzo River Valley
about five miles northwest of here.
Believed Attempting Ambush.
One Yugoslav soldier was killed in
the first exchange of fire. The other
was slain later when another Yugo-
slav patrol which apparently was
intent on ambushing the United
States patrol" was encountered, the
announcement said.
Meanwhile, Trieste itself remained
quiet as the general strike which for
IL days paralyzed most of the in
dustry in occupation zone "A,' the
British-American zone, ended at
midnight. However, notice was
served by labor spokesmen that the
threatened arrest of the 11-man
strike committee might precipitate
new walkout.
The 88th Division, commanded by
Maj. Gen. Bryant E. Moore, issued
this account of the exchange Of shots
near Aurisina:
AT approximately 1900 hours
GMT on July II Yugoslav patrol
which crossed the Morgan Line near
Aurisina, southeast of Caporetto,
was sighted by United States out
post.
Fire Returned by Patrol.
"An -officered patrol
which Immediately investigated the
violation of the line was fired on by
the Yugoslavs at point approx
mately 300 yards from the Morgan
Line in Zone A.
Acting on instructions to fire only
when fired upon, the United States
patrol returned the fire. After a
brief exchange of firing. one OF the
Yugoslav soldiers was found dead. !
The United States patrol con-
tinued to advance until another
Yugoslav patrol was encountered
which apparently was intent on am
bushing the United States patrol.
Another brief f1re-fght followed
after which the Yugoslavs retired.
THE American patrol returned toI
Aurisina, where it was ascertained
that there were no United States
casualties.
All actions definitely took place
in Zone A, and American troops in
Caporetto and Aurisina have been
alerted, while further investigation
is being made.
Later reports, confirmed by S8th
Division headquarters, state that a
second Yugoslav soldier was killed
in the latter part Of the action"
New Strike Threatened.
The Morgan Line extends north
from Punta Grossa, a headland four
miles south of Trieste, to Gorilla,
Caporetto and Ratece on the Italian
Yugoslav-Austrian border.
On Belgrade, Yugoslavia,
meanwhile, the Yugoslav Min
istry Of Information officially de-
MED Rome reports by the Minos
News Agency that Marshal Tito
had been wounded or that an at
tempt had been made on his life.
The ministry said the Yugoslav
premier, lin excellent health"
was making speaking tour Of
Montenegran villages
Notice of the end of the Trieste
strike appeared in the Allied mill
tary government newspaper Gior-
male Alleato over the signatures of
seven left wing and predominantly
pro-Yugoslav labor leaders, who
said the decision was made because
OF the Allied action in "dissolving"
the strike committee. The strike
had been called in protest to what
the labor groups referred TO as
Fascist aggression"
A spokesman for the labor groups
said, however, that should the oc-
cupation authorities serve warrants
issued for the strike committee
members, renewed protests with all
the means at our disposal, includ-
ing new strike, would result"
However, Col. Alfred c. Bowman
OF Los Angeles. senior military gov