CZECH INTERIOR.

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

CZECH INTERIOR.

WAR PREPARATIONS.

People Demanding Arms to Save Country. NAZI STORIES DISCREDITED. United I'rcss Association.—Copyright. j (Received 10.30 a.m.) i LONDON, September 23. I Tlic situation is regarded in Prague as being of extreme gravity, and the general expectation is that German troops may march into Sudetcnland at any moment. The question is being asked Avhether they J will stop before they get to Prague, j Gabion/. lias already passed under Nazi control, but at Reichenberg, where the Germans are giving tlio Nazi salute, the Czechs arc mining the bridge as Czech infantry rumbles to the frontier,' from which civilians have withdrawn. | The tension is growing at Eger, where ! the Sudeten Germans are insisting upon sharing the policing of the town with the Czechs, who warned the Sudeten Free Corps that if they cross the frontier they will be shot down. The Czechs have blown up the bridge at Gasnitz. The British United Press reports fighting between the Sudeten Free Corps and the Czechs at the village of Satzdorf. The Sudetens. who are in control of j Asch. are eagerly awaiting the arrival 1 of German troops. Here the Czechs have retired behind what is believed will be the new frontier. Meanwhile, Prague is patrolled by squadrons of cavalry armed with machine-guns. Scores of thousands of people demand arms to save Czechoslovakia. Police lorries dashed through the streets, where the crowds were threaten-1 ing. Anti-aircraft guns are in position, j The new Prime Minister, General Sirovy, said in a broadcast that the ! Army was standing firm and the nation , could rely upon the valour of the j troops. The President, Dr. Benes, in a I further proclamation this morning, said I enemy propaganda here and abroad was trying to undermine the nation's confidence in the authorities, and create unrest and opposition. At this difficult moment the nation naturally turned to the Army for strength and organisation. The Army would deserve this confidence 1 and would stand immovable by the! Government's decisions. Along the whole of the straggling | frontier, Czech troops are moving up to j their dofence positions and forts. Ger-1 man Social-Democrats and civilians say 1 they will fight side by side with the soldiers. I The correspondent of "The Times" at Prague says every German account of frontier incidents is refuted by eye- ] witnesses. It is officially announced that J the disturbances were similar to those which occurred immediately after Herr j Hitler's Nuremberg speech, except that the attackers are now members of' the Sudeten Free Corps, who crossed the frontier at 10 or 12 points and seized Customs houses before being driven back. There was no bloodshed except in southern Moravia, where three people were killed. | The German news agency reported, | says the "Daily Telegraph" Berlin corI respondent, that the Czech Army reoccupied the Eger district. The news agency declares Czech tanks and machine-guns at Grazlitz, Falkenau and" other towns, and 16 men and women were reported to have been killed. The measures were declared to be "reprisals for the hoisting of swastika flags by the population earlier." DISORDERS IN LONDON. MOUNTED POLICE CALLED. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, this day. The police were forced to intervene in several demonstrations in Whitehall during the night. The crowd booed Fascists bearing banners and attempted to cut off the marchers, who fled. Subsequent clashes resulted in three arrests. The crowds increased at midnight, and mounted police were summoned to calm mobs which were shouting, "Britons fight only for Britons. No war for the Czechs." The air liner Heracles landed at Croydon at 11 p.m. with passengers, including 15 women. They said Prague , was quiet when they left. Some British II people were remaining at the Consulate land had arranged to leave if necessary. • i a