TROOPS STAND BY IN FIGHTING ORDER

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 10

TROOPS STAND BY IN FIGHTING ORDER

Frontier Tension

CZECH GUN MUZZLES TURNED TO GERMANY FRENCH PREPARATIONS United Pita« .Wwiation—Copyright.—Ree. 3 p.m.) LONDON, this day. Midnight reports from the frontiers reveal the tensest state of preparedness. At Strasbourg French soldiers with full field equipment are standing by in fighting positions to a depth of three kilometres in front of the Maginot Line. The German frontier in the vicinity of Kehl is plunged into darkness, with the exception of lights leading to the fortifications. At Berlin all bridges and lines are mined. Trains from Eger and the Czech interior are proceeding with difficulty. Strong Czech forces are occupying strategic frontier posts. ' The muzzles of machine-guns and heavy artillery are turned towards Germany. A Prague broadcast stated that one Slovak had joined and another was joining the Cabinet. Dr. Benes signed the mobilisation order at 10.1 p.m. The United States Minister has warned Americans to leave the country. \ It is reported in Paris, says "The Times" correspondent, that in pursuance of an order to strengthen the French frontier forces, the garrisons of Nancy and Besancon are moving up through Mulhouse. All troops on furlough have been recalled to their units. Sporadic Fighting Reported. Fighting throughout the night occurred on the German-Czech i frontier. It was sporadic in nature, and did not represent a < concerted move by troops on either side. It is officially stated that eight Germans and ten Czechs were killed. It is also stated that 1 3 were killed and 26 wounded and , 28 Czech Customs guards were carried over the frontier in day- ] time clashes. 1 The districts most infiltrated by insurgents are Asch, Rumberg. Schluckenau and Wamsdorf. Martial law has been extended to Kapiitz. j It is reported from Berlin that the Sudetens at Graslitz sent telegrams to Herr Hitler and Mr. Chamberlain appealing for help as the "Bolshevist terror is causing great distress." The official German news agency is publishing a stream of reports of alleged shootings, bombings and burnings, and claiming that the frontier towns, including Eger, have been evacuated by the Czechs and taken over by the Henleinists. Million French Under Arms. A Paris message says M. Daladier told the Radical-Socialists that he absolutely agreed with Mr. Chamberlain that Czechoslovakia must remain an autonomous State with her own army. He added that he had taken all the precautionary measures possible. Official quarters describe the Czech mobilisation as a symptom of. war, and add that France already has a million men under arms, which mobilisation would increase to three millions. German 'Plan as and Troop* Moving. Reuter's correspondent at Munich reports that military and air activity was to be observed all day long. Columns of troops were marching across the city in the direction of the Salzburg Road. Train loads were leaving by rail. Several motorised columns were seen on the Bavarian highway with their regimental identifications removed. The "Daily Telegraph" correspondent at Munich says squadrons of army 'planes, reconnaisance craft and bombers were taking off in formation at ten-minute intervals, heading for Czechoslovakia. A total of 144 was counted taking off in 150 minutes. Anti-aircraft batteries and 'plane detectors have been placed in the public squares and outside the army bairacks. "The Times'* correspondent in Berlin says anti-aircraft Suns have been mounted strategically, and their crews in full attle order are visible to passers-by. Aircraft are heard over the city at all hours. \