BEING EVACUATED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1938, Page 9

BEING EVACUATED

THE SUDETENLAND

CZECHS WITHDRAWING

CLASHES REPORTED

(Received September 23, noon.) LONDON, September 22. The official news agency in Berlin states that the Czech army is evacuating all parts of the Sudetenland. At Eger people roamed the streets all night, expecting the arrival of the German army. They wildly cheered the first detachment of the Free Corps. • The remaining Czech police are now wearing swastika armbands. The Sudetens have now taken charge of the police service of the entire Sudeten territory up to the Czech frontier. The former Czech police are co-operating to maintain order. The Czechs have evacuated a large area between Klingenthal and Graz-I litz, and swastika flags now decorate the houses. Czech officials at the Klingenthal Custom House burned portraits of the former President, Dr. Masaryk, and of Dr. Benes, and handed over the keys to the Sudeten Volunteer Corps. Selb was deserted overnight. Sudetens are swarming across the frontier and taking over all duties. Reichmarks have already supplanted Czech crowns, and all Czech emblems have gone. Jews have fled. The Henleinist ordnance corps is guarding the Customs stations. . The Prague correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that the gen-; darmerie and the police in a number of frontier towns were induced to j withdraw and to surrender their functions, without a struggle, by Hen-j leinist storm troopers, who took over | the buildings, The places thus affected lie along the frontier beyond the Czech first line of defence, and include towns such as Eger, Asch, Grazlitz, Bodenback, and Warflsdorf. Even towns further inland, including Marienbad and Carlsbad, fell partly into the hands of the Henleinists, but immediately the Cabinet resigned permanent officials took over their control and began to restore authority, which by evening had been generally completed. GERMAN ARMY PREPAREDNESS. The Munich correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says ihat all troops are to readiness awaiting orders to

move towards Czechoslovakia. Thousands of private vehicles have been commandeered by the military, and hundreds of motor-lorries are being loaded with military supplies in the barrack yards. German sources report a serious clash at Weipert, the population of] which marched to Baerenstein,' on the frontier, where a Czech officer is alleged to have thrown a hand grenade into a crowd, Czechs and Sudetens \ being killed. Details are not available. It is added that buildings at Weipert I were set on fire. ■ The official German news agency I says that raiding Czechs were thrown back at Neussiedl, Mitterbach, and Liebenau. At Liebenau a miniature battle took place between Czech troops and Sudetens, some being killed and 20 wounded. The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" says that the news that the Czechs had accepted the British and French plan was greeted with a sigh of relief from the German people. Since Mr. Chamberlain's visit, all Germans, particularly the working and; middle classes, had placed great faith in him, believing that even in this late hour, he would unite with HenHitler and save Germany from war. NAZI FLAG IN" SUDETENLAND. Reuters special correspondent on the German-Czech frontier says that the Nazi flag is n6w flying over Czech towns throughout Sudetenland. A crowd of Sudetens stormed the Czech Custom House at Asch, disarmed the officials, and led them to Germany. They afterwards took possession of the Asch police station and placed the police under lock and key. Similar incidents are reported from o'h~r Sudeten centres.