Evening star., 1952-08-13

VIENNA, Aug. 13 (NANA-Ken1-
news Seven years ago the Iron
Curtain was clamped down along
Austria's 500-mile-long frontier
facing Czechoslovakia and Hun
gary. Since then, thousands of
unhappy. hunted victims of Com
munist oppression have success
fully challenged the regiments of
frontier guards and security police
and crossed the mine infested cur
tain to Austria and freedom.
At first. the Iron Curtain existed
only in name. Guards were few
and far between. and professional
smugglers were only too pleased
to earn an honest penny" guiding
fleeing refugees across the border.
AS the number Of successful fu-
Igitives reached alarming. pro-
portions, the Russians took over
the frontier. Red army troops were
drafted to border towns and vii
Ilages, while thousands of con-
Iscripted laborers worked day and
might to make the Iron Curtain
"a reality.
Families Moved Out.
A safety belt" 20 miles deep
was evacuated Of all but the most
trusted Communist families. War
was declared on professional"
guides and smugglers, and they
were hunted down.
The old frontier guards were
replaced by regular Czech and
Hungarian troops. backed by Sc
curity units from the interior, IA
natic Communist youth brigades,
and savage dogs. In front of the
safety belt" and garrisons, the
Iron Curtain proper took shape.
Mine fields. varying in depth
from half-a- mile to three miles,
were thickly Sown with anti-per-
Sonnel mines, interspersed with
broad belts of barbed-wire en-
tanglements. At vulnerable points
single strand electric-wire fences
and watch towers. equipped with
SearchlightS and machine guns
every 200 yards, were set up.
Despite these formidable meas
ures, fugitives continue to run the
gauntlet. and cross the Iron Cur
tain in large numbers. All kinds
of clever subterfuges are used to
get through.
Some daring fugitives hid in
wine barrels. part of a consign-
ment of Hungarian wine being
exported to Switzerland, and
travelled to Austria disguised as
the forty thieves" Others have
stolen planes, amphibious ducks.
and even trains!
Last year a complete train,
loaded with disgruntled railway
workers and their families. hurtled
across the Iron Curtain and
crashed the barrier to freedom.
Prince Fools Guard.
Youthful Prince Esterhazy
bluffed his way to freedom with
the help of his ancestors. Carry
ing huge. ornate wreath, he ap-
preached the frontier picket with
a request to pay homage to his
ancestors, buried in a graveyard
right on the frontier. In an un-
guarded moment, the picket al
lowed him to pass!
Diplomatic posts abroad and
membership on sports teams COM
peting in international events are
highly priced. In some cases
whole athletic teams have de
serted" once the curtain" was be-
hind them.
Not only grownups. but children,
too, brave the mines and guards
to start a new life. A group of
children solemnly laid planks
through the mine fields. and. at
night. openly cycled into Austria
undetected.
For nearly so per cent Of the
successful crossers, their adven-
lures end in tragedy. In ignor-
ance, many cannot resist boasting
Of their newly-won freedom" as
soon as they cross into Austria, or.
perhaps. wounded in the mine
fields or in need Of food, they re-
port to the police or mayor.
They do not realize that they
are in the RuSsian-controlled zone
Of Austria.