TROOP MOVEMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 44, 21 August 1939, Page 9

TROOP MOVEMENTS

100 MILES OF FRONT

COMPLETE GERMAN CONTROL

LONDON, August 19. It is officially stated in Berlin that the German activity in Slovakia is limited to the presence of a military mission in Bratislava and the occupation of the zone agreed upon in March. The sole official comment on the occupation is: "The developments are following the course mapped out when Slovakia arranged and received German protection." Officials declined to define the word "course." The Bratislava correspondent of the British Associated Press yesterday reported that German troops are flung along at least 100 miles of the PolishSlovakian frontier, a far greater distance than that fixed when Germany guaranteed Slovakia's independence by treaty last March. Tens of thousands of troops have been observed in the vicinity of Zilina, where the townsfolk are preparing to flee from their homes at a moment's notice. Other troops are moving up the mountainous regions in the north-east, which are described strategically as Poland's back door. The German mili- j tary staff has assumed complete control of the country areas, although Bratislava in the meantime is ostensibly remaining under Slovak authority. The Slovak military leader, General j Csatloa, resigned last week after re- j fusing a German suggestion that he should send two Slovak divisions to the Polish frontier. The National Council persuaded him to retain his command, j which is now worthless. ; The Germans last night closed down two Czech and all Jewish newspapers in Slovakia. SLOVAKIA "ALL QUIET." The Bratislava wireless station denied that it announced that Germany has taken over military possession of Slovakia owing to the existing military situation, and attributes the story to oppositionist propaganda. All is quiet in Slovakia. The PrimeMinister, Dr. Tiso, is spending the weekend in the country. It is felt in London that the broadcast announcement from Bratislava that Germany was taking military possession of Slovakia, as reported by the British Associated Press, was a logical sequel to the signing of the treaty between Germany and Slovakia. The reference in the announcement, to "owing to the existing situation" applies to the rapid deterioration of the German-Polish relations and to Slovakia's strategic position between Poland's southern frontier and Hungary's northern frontier. TEXT OF PACT NOT REVEALED. The text of the agreement is not disclosed, but it is said to refer to delimitation of the military zones that the German forces are to occupy. The treaty implements the German-Slovak agreement signed after the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia, under which [Germany was authorised to build and | man the garrisons and forts which ! extend from Germany's eastern Siegfried Line into Slovakia as far as the ! River Warthe. Germany is permitted to Install a i military mission in Bratislava to supervise the activities and heavy concentrations of German troops established throughout Slovakia for some time. The announcement merely ratifies their presence. The diplomatic correspondent of "The Times" makes three deductions from the announcement:—(l) That Hungary has lost the last hope of taking over Slovakia by agreement with Germany; (2) that Germany is able to have troops on Hungary's northern frontier and exert greater pressure on Budapest; (3) that Germany has automatically strengthened and deepened her south-eastern flank in the event of war against Poland by fortifications on Slovakia's northern frontiers. ENCIRCLEMENT SUSPECTED. The spokesman in Warsaw said: "We have long known that Slovakia would be a military base for operations against Poland. We have provided for this contingency. Germany's move is open proof of her intention to encircle Poland."

(Received August 21, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. The Budapest correspondent of "The Times" says that confirmation is growing of stories about German military forces' taking over Slovakia. Reports are plentiful concerning the dumps of ammunition and barbed wire, and the camouflaging of artillery which is already in position, and the requisitioning of schools for billets. ,

Count Czaky arrived at Graz on an unknown mission. It is known that Hungary is anxious to preserve her neutrality in the event of war.