BRUTALLY BEATEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 281, 8 September 1938, Page 5

BRUTALLY BEATEN

POLICE RIDING-WHIPS. ALLEGATION BY SUDETENS. DEMONSTRATIONS IN MORAVIA. DELIBERATELY PROVOCATIVE ACT. OFFICIAL VIEW OF THE AFFAIR. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) PRAGUE, September 7. The Sudetens allege that a party of members of the Chamber of Deputies were “brutally beaten with riding whips by the police” at Mahriscli Ostrau, a Northern Moravian industrial town, which is predominantly Czech, but includes 20,000 Germans. The Sudetens add that the deputies were rotighly treated by the police and population. On the contrary, the London “Daily Telegraph” correspondent at Prague says that officials believe the Henleinists are deliberately provoking the incidents to provide an excuse for evading discussion on the proposals and perhaps provoke even more serious international developments. The official version is 'that demonstrations began outside the prison in which smugglers of arms and those who engaged in espionage are confined. The demonstrators included 300 Henleinists. Mounted and foot police intervened, hut without drawing their truncheons. After this a Henleinist deputation protested to the Police Directorate, alleging brutality to the Henleinists. No action was taken against the Czechs after investigation of a charge by a deputy that he was caught in the reins of a police horse and when he endeavoured to turn its head he was struck across the hand with a riding whip. There was no other violence. The Prime Minister (Dr. Hodza) announced that an investigation would be made into the Mahrisch Ostrau incidents, and promised that the guilty would be punished and measures taken to prevent a recurrence. SITUATION STILL DELICATE. OFFICIAL VIEW IN LONDON. (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) LONDN, September 7. An abstract of the new proposals which were handed in at Prague by Dr. Hodza to Herr Kundt is in the possession of the Foreign Office, and as far as examination of this summary enables a judgment to be formed, the view in British official circles is that the proposals represent a basis uipon which it is hoped negotiations will be continued, It is appreciated in London, however, that the situation remains uncertain find very delicate until it becomes clear that . Herr Henlein’s Party has accepted the new basis. It is stated officially in London that a suggestion appearing in “The Times” to the effect that Czechoslovakia might consider as an alternative to its present proposals the secession of a fringe of alien populations in its territory in no way represents the views of his Majesty’s Government. British Official Wireless. GROUND FOR THE SUSPENSION. INCIDENTS INVOLVING DEATH. (Received Tips Day, 11.30 a.m.) PRAGUE, Sept, 7.

The Sudetens suspended study of the Czech proposals as the result of incidents involving the death of a prominent member of the Sudeten Party.