The Fate of Western Hungary 1918-1921 - Corvinus Library ...

of Borostyánkő or the vicinity of Írott-kő mountain. It was noted that rebel
forces were moving in the forest near Városszalónak. 320
In the exchange between the PM and the Chief Government Constable that
took place at 17:00 on the same day, Bethlen informed Sigray that “I sent
Gyula Gömbös by special train to Sopron with the goal of persuading Iván
Héjjas to return,” as well as those who are on territory to be ceded to Austria by
his orders. This “only escalating tensions, useful for increasing disorder and
presenting to the Entente with the idea that resistance in the Hungarian territory
is prepared with the knowledge or cooperation of the government, or that these
people passing though the Hungarian and Austrian cordon are creating
resistance in the areas occupied by the Austrians and from where they return to
Hungarian territory, where they feel safe, once their stay becomes
impossible.” 321 In his report to Bethlen of the evening before, Count Sigray
noted: “In my opinion, the mission of Gyula Gömbös here is pointless, since
Ostenburg will remove Héjjas and the other elements. The clean-up has already
begun and will be completed by noon tomorrow.” Sigray then reported on the
“fairly large sized” confrontation at Pinkafő, which “allegedly had 50 Austrian
casualties.” The Austrians had not, to this time, marched into either Pinkafő or
Borostyánkő. 322 Finally, the Chief Commissioner suggested to the PM: “I
would deem it extremely advisable if Gömbös, as well as every other person
not living here, returned to Budapest as soon as possible because politicians, we
know, only cause confusion. I can report that Friedrich will not come to Sopron
again. He had announced that he was completely stepping aside from the
conflict. This I did. However, the Urmánczy group will be harder to remove, as
they are stealthier. I will look after them, too.” 323
The clash that took place in the village of Pinkafő on August 29 was also
reported by telephone that evening at 17:30 by the head of the Sopron branch of
the Interior Ministry’s central investigation department. According to him,
there were 60 casualties on the Austrian side, with a higher number of wounded
but as yet unascertainable. Austrian units withdrew from the village. There
were also clashes around the village of Nagyszentmihály, with 18 dead and
many wounded but “on which side is not yet clear.” The captain making the
report remarked that he had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Pál Prónay.
He also reported that Robert Davy, the provincial chief named to head
Burgenland by the Vienna government, resigned today. In Sopron, the band of
the Ostenburg battalion gave a concert on Széchenyi Square at 4pm -- the time
when the city was supposed to have been handed over.
Baron Frigyes Villani, deputy to Chief Government Commissioner Sigray,
included in his noon report of August 30 to PM Bethlen that, according to his
latest information, Robert Davy did not resign. He had installed his offices in
320 MOL. K 26. 1388. csomó 1922–„H” tétel, pp. 298-301.
321 Ibid, p. 290.
322 Ibid, p. 292.
323 Ibid, p. 293.
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