RULE OF FORCE

Evening Star, Issue 24004, 1 October 1941, Page 7

RULE OF FORCE

UNREST IN OCCUPIED COUNTRIES THE NAZIS PERTURBED BRUTAL REPRESSIVE MEASURES (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 29. For some time reports reaching London. from Czeeho-Slov.akia —as, indeed, from almost every country now occupied by the Nazis—showed that the spirit of resistance and its practical manifestation in acts of sabotage was rapidly growing and was having a considerable effect. The sudden replacement of Baron von Neurath, the German Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, by the S.S. group leader, Heydrich, and the proclamation of a state of emergency clearly indicates the seriousness with which the Nazis view the rising tide of sabotage, passive resistance, and revolt which is spreading throughout the country. Heydrich’s reputation for brutality is second only to that of Himmler, the hated Gestapo head, whose right-hand man Heydrich was. His appointment and the proclaimed state of emergency are thus feared in London' to herald the imposition of new and more fearful repressive measures against the people of Czecho-Sloyakia. In every country which the Nazi forces have overrun it has only been found possible to impose Hitler’s muchvaunted “ new order ” by acts of brutal repression, and against the vigorous resistance of the vast majority of the people. The new ordfer clearly has made no appeal whatsoever to any peoples outside Germany. And if the achievement of the new order throughout Europe and the world is the cause for which Germany is fighting, then she can have no prospect of peace, for the people of the occupied countries have shown that rather than accept such new order they will resist to their utmost, unarmed and unorganised for resistance though they he. A Nazi victory would not bring them peace.

BARREN FIELD IN SWEDEN PAUCITY OF " CRUSADERS ” (Britith Official Wirelesi.) RUGBY, September 29. The failure of Nazi propaganda and pressure to evoke any practical enthusiasm for her war against Russia, either in countries like Rumania and Bulgaria, which she virtually controls, or in other European countries on which, for geographical or political reasons, she is able to exert her influence, has already been shown. Recent news from Sweden has given further evidence oi the Nazis’ failure in this respect. Commenting on 1 the paucity of “crusaders” in Sweden who were found willing to join the Nazi campaign against Russia, the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ says: “ In July the Swedish Government refused to have a Swedish volunteer corps organised by the Germans on Swedish soil. All that a Swede could do if he -wanted to serve Hitler was to seek permission to leave his country and then volunteer. To September 2 there had been only 23 applications. Each applicant had a German document certifying that he wanted to join the German army, and the Swedish Government rejected all the applications Very few more appear to have approached the Germans directly in Finland in order to serve in that country. One would not expect anything else from Sweden, an honest, self-re-specting, freedom-loving folk, and the Germans do not like it.” MORE CZECHS SHOT ALL MEETINGS BANNED LONDON, September 29. The Prague radio announced that a court martial had sentenced to death 20 more Czechs, who were immediately shot. They included a retired brigadiergeneral and a Prague editor. A decree bans all Czech meetings, sporting and cultural events, theatres and concerts, and declares that notice must be given of meetings of shareholders and economic corporations. Houses must be locked at 11 ip.m., unless an earlier curfew is imposed. Mr Anthony Eden, broadcasting to Czechoslovakia last night, on the eve of the third anniversary of the Munich agreement, said: “ Czecho-Slovaks, hold on! The hour of your liberation is coming. We will win victory for you on the front behind the German lines. We are your allies in the field, and we know the cause for which we fight cannot be defeated. Never has evil permanently triumphed over good, nor will it now.” Czechoslovak headquarters in London learned that the Premier of Bohemia and Moravia. General Elias, has already been taken to Berlin. The Nazis allege that he and other puppet Government members have been in contact with London, serving the interests of Dr Benes. The German radio stated that the first death sentences ordered by Heydrich under the state .f emergency in Bohemia and Moravia were carried out yesterday, when six people were shot. “ GETTING DOWN TO WORK ” LONDON, Oct. 1. The Gestapo terror in Czechoslovakia is getting down to work, and it is reported that 58 more Czechs have been shot. Tbo Germans in Prague are boasting about it. The list of missing people grows. In Bulgaria the prisons arc reported to be overcrowded. BERLIN'S EXPLANATION SHOOTING OF CZECH GENERALS (Bee. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. 'The German News Agency, in a statement on tbo reason for the shooting of the two Czech retired generals, Bily and Votja, and others on Septem-

ber 29, said the generals were leading members of a Czech group which tried to re-establish an independent Czech State by cutting Bohemia and Moravia from tho protectorate by force. Two of the other executed men were charged with being members of a group which systematically gathered firearms for use against the Germans in the event of a revolution. Other charges against the men executed were that they were preparing acts of high treason or were Communists. The Moscow radio said a bomb was thrown at Gestapo headquarters in Prague. The prison where the Czech loaders were imprisoned was also attacked. SABOTAGE AT ROUEN MILITARY TRAIN BLOWN UP LONDON, September 30. The Moscow radio says a German military train was blown up at Rouen, where the station buildings were damaged. Leaflets are being distributed in France condemning the Vichy authorities for taking the harvests from peasants and handing them over to the Germans. Tho leaflets also urge the peasants to hide everything. It is reported from Stockholm that the Germans are transferring Oslo dockers to north Norway as a punishment for strikes.