The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-12-10
|IranianS War
 On Azerbaiijjan
Governments ArlnyInvodes Rebel Region
 Artillery, Bombers
 Support Columns
 Across Frontier

Tehran, Dec. lV--(UFD-- Iranian government troops today invaded Azerbaijan, the northernmost Iranian province adjoining Soviet Russia, in an attempt to eF. force Premier Ahmed Ghav. am's authority over the re- bellious region.
 Four columns of govern ment troops, supported by artillery and bombers, struck across me mountainous frontier last night and this morning. Government re- ports said they had captured B frontier townships in the flrst hours.
 The semi-autonomous Azerbaijan regime of Jaafar Pishevari azl- nounced by radio from Tabriz that its troops were resisting stoutly. Pishevaris regime. known as the Democrats, was established while Russian troops occupied Azercaijan to handle the wartime movement or A1klEIAEAu AEAf1~AEM&yE WG1RAAE8s
 Claim American Influence
 Pishevari's radio denounced ta1e attack as foreign-inspired. It calieo Ghavam an "AHnericophile and servant of those who hold atomic secrets" The Azerbaijan regime which is vely friendly toward Rus sia, has been bound to the central government by a slender tie but has refused to allow 0havam's troops to enter it's province.
 0havazn said the invasion was @ enable central troops to supervise parliamentary elections. He maine tained they had this right because Azerbaitar was part of Iran.
 The chief of the Isanian general staff announced that government troops attacked across the frontier at Q ?. N. yesterday toward Mia neh first important town in the province. Mianeh lies about @ miles north of the frontier.
 Government reports said the ae- tack was opened in four sectors along the mountainous frontier. The main column was aimed along the Tehran-Tabriz road, which runs through a long gorge toward Mia- neh.
 Attack Major Offensive
 The staff chief announced thae Takab and i2 other Azerbaijan frontier townships along she Ghaf- lankuh mountains had been cap- tured.
 Radio Tabriz, voice of the ssuai- autonomous Azerbaijan regime headed by Jaafar Pishevari, de. scribed the government attack as a major offensive with the use of tanks and heavy artillery. It said government planes were bombing Mehabad in southwestern Aberbai- jan and other defense points.
 (The Moscow newspaper Pravda said yesterday that Ghavazn's goy- ernment was following "a danger ous path pointed out to him by tor- eign quarters" in sending troops ira- to Azerbaijan)
 Azerbaijan troops were offering strenuous resistance, the Tabriz radio said. It reported one village had changed hands three times.
 Kurdistan Used AS Base
 There were indications that part of the offensive was being mounted from Kurdistan, an area on the southwestern corner of AzeroaiJan' Southern Kurdistan has been held by central troops, northern Kurdis- tan by Azerbaijani.
 Fifty thousand Kurdish tribes men loyal to the Azerbaijan regime were reported in northern Ksrdis- tan. The horsemen were reported well armed. Central troops assem- bled ip southern Kurdistan wers said to number 90.OOO. They weCs mainly horsemen. but were reported to have mountain artillery and some small tanks.
 Along the eastern edge Of Aser. baijan, near the Caspian Seq Shahsavan tribesmen supporting Ghavam have attacked Ardebil ane captured Khalkhal. 1t was reported