Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-16
Americans Halt
|Yugos|av Troops
AT TriesteB
Warning Shots Fired
In BloodIess Clash at
New States Frontier
By the Associated Press

TRIEST, Sept. ia bloodless
frontier clash between Yugoslav
and American troops marked
the birth of Trieste as a free
territory today.
The Allied military government
announced that Yugoslav detach-
ment was blocked by a warning burst
of machine-gun fire and the move
ment of an armor- supported Amer
lean infantry battalion up from re-
serve when the Yugoslavs sought tt
cross the border into the free terri.
tory at an outpost held by II Amer
lean soldiers.
The incident followed a night In
which Yugoslavia jumped the gun
on the Allied-Yugoslav time table
for her occupation of lands Won
under the Italian peace treaty ano
forced troop movements in the
Morgan Line zone by night instead
of after dawn, as planned. There
was Italian and Slav rioting in
Trieste.
British American Military Gov
eminent headquarters said the
Americans at Post No. S, on a main
road to Trieste, held their ground
when Yugoslav unit of "a soldiers
presented itself at the provisional
and disputed, boundary and de-
manded permission to cross.
Reserve Battalion Called Up.
The Yugoslavs called up REIN
forcements in full battle formation
Immediately a battalion of Ameri-
can infantry was sent up from a
reserve position with it's full COM
plement of armor and artillery.
Maj. Gen. T. S. Airey, British
commander in Trieste, said the
Yugoslavs indicated then they would
abide by the decision of the British
American command and would refer
the matter to dilomatic level.
Owing to the extraordinary good
sense and tactful handling by the
American troops" Gen. Airey said
AN incident was prevented" He
added that the affair might have
led ito bloodshed and a breach of
the articles of the peace treaty."
Both the American and Yugoslav
officers at the post said they would
consult with higher authorities. The
Yugoslavs dropped back a few feet
from the line.
Incident Occurs ON Road.
Rioting between Italians and slavs
heralded the birth of the free ter
ritory of Trieste, embracing the
Adriatic port and its environs.
The AMG announcement said
the machinegun incident occurred
on the road between Boriano and
Proscco.
The Yugoslav unit of "a soldiers
commanded by two officers presented
itself at the boundary and demanded
permission to cross. The Americans
refused. The Yugoslavs argued
that they interpreted the peace
treaty as authorizing Yugoslav
troops to enter the free state up tc
maximum of 5000 men.
The American officer in charge OF
the post. the AMG said, replied that
he would consult his superiors
When the Yugoslavs insisted or
crossing he summoned the tank ano
also called for local reserves.
Yugoslav Letter Received.
The Yugoslav troops who demand.
ed entry into the free state were 9
detachment of the force of 2,00(
men which. under an Allied agree.
ment with Premier Marshal Tito
were designated to be attached te
the AMG as liaison units.
Gen. Airey said he received 8
letter last night from a Yugoslay
staff officer declaring the Yugoslay
troops would enter on the main road
into Trieste at midnight and station
themselves in the city.
The British general added that
he had talked with the detachment
commander previously and the
Yugoslav officer had agreed that
the Yugoslav troops should &c
around and enter by way of the
(See TRIESTE, Page A-6.)