CZECH PURGE ADMITTED BUT NOT EXPLAINED

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1949, Page 5

CZECH PURGE ADMITTED BUT NOT EXPLAINED

(Rec. 9.30). LONDON, October 13. The Communist newspaper, “Rude Pravo”, gave an official admission that unusual occurrences were taking place in Czechoslovakia, reports “The Times” correspondent at Vienna. The “Rude Pravo” said: The Government of Czechoslovakia has decided that those who have been earning one hundred thousand crowns daily merely by telephoning must now b e forced to work.

The newspaper also admitted that a purge was going on in the Government offices. It added: This has differed from the previous purges only in that those who are concerned in the latest round-up are deprived of liberty. “The Times” correspondent says: Though the Czech public is unhappy and uneasy, there is no sign that the popular discontent is getting out of hand. PRAGUE, Oct. 12 The Czechoslovak Government, which is rounding up thousands of political suspects in big police drag nets to-night, has demanded the surrender of all privately-held firearms. Communists, as well as nonCommunists, are required to surrender pistols and hunting weapons, even air rifles. The police who have gaoled thousands in the past ten days, are continuing to make arrests though on a smaller scale. People going shopping sometimes find the old owners of grocery stores gone and Communist national administrators in charge. This strengthens the report that the purge is aimed mainly at wiping out what is left of the small-business middleclass. Arrests in the provinces outside Prague were reportedly aimed at picking up members of the suspected underground. Those arrested are being sent to labour camps for “reeducation.” Their homes are liable to confiscation. Prague restaurants and night clubs are almost deserted at night ' and the streets usally filled with' strolling crowds are quiet. Search for American Whom Czech Regime Denounced (Rec. 5.5). PRAGUE. October 12. (N.Z.P.A.—REUTER CABLE) Mr Noel H. Field, an American, who was named as a "master spy” in the recent Rajk trial in Budapest, has disappeared since arriving in Czechoslovakia, so an American Embassy spokesman disclosed here today. He said the Embassy was preparing to make inquiries from the Czechoslovak Government. . ; Mr Field is believed to have comei back to Czechoslovakia from Switzer- j land in May, and to have gene on to

Bratislava. Since then all trace of him has apparently been lost, the official said. During his trial on charges oi treason and espionage. Laszlo Rajk the former Hungarian Foreign Minister, said that Mr Field had made contact with him in France in 1941 He called Mr Field the “head of American intelligence for Central and Eastern Europe”.