GERMANS SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 9

GERMANS SHOT

CZECH POLICEMAN FRONTIER INCIDENT OFFICIAL EXPLANATION REFUSED TO OBEY ORDER By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 22. 6.30 p.m.) PRAGUE, May 22 Two Sudeten German farmers were killed early yesterday morning at the frontier town of Cheb. They disregarded a notice to stop and a policeman fired on them.

A Czech official statement relates that the Sudetens, Georg Hofmann and Nickolas Boehm, were riding a motorcycle and refused to stop when a policeman ordered them to do so. They speeded up and headed for the policeman, who leaped aside and fired at the front tyre. The fact that the road rises steeply is believed to have been the reason for the bullet striking the riders, who died in hospital. A criminal charge has been brought against the policeman. An official account of an incident at Chomotau declares that 300 Sudeten Germans gave unprecedented provocation to Czech troops, shouting offensive slogans and spitting in their faces. The demonstrators included the burgomaster of the town, Herr Herbricht, who spat in the face of a Czech officer. Herr Nemec, a Henlein deputy, incited and led the crowds in attempting to wrench the bayonets and rifles from the troops.

In spite of a German statement that 100 were injured, only six or eight were slightly hurt and all were able to walk home.

OUTCRY IN BERLIN PROTEST BY GOVERNMENT INTENSIVE PRESS CAMPAIGN " UNBEARABLE PROVOCATION " (Received May 22, <5.30 p.m.) BERLIN. May 22 The German Government is sharply protesting at the Chob shootings, and the newspapers have been instructed to intensify the campaign against Czechoslovakia, The front pages of yesterday morning's newspapers carried flaring banner lines describing the unbearable provocation of the defenceless Sudeten Germans, and police attacks with firearms and sabres, and generally sought to convey a picture of Czech terrorism. The newspapers printed full and sensational reports of the alleged incidents in Czechoslovakia. In every instance the Sudeten Germans were described as innocent victims. Field-Marshal Goering's paper, the National-zeitung, declares: "The German people cannot regard these incidents as accidental outbreaks of Czech Chauvinism, but as a planned attack upon the rights of the very life of Sudeten Germans, for which the Czech Government must be held responsible." The evening papers describe Hofmann and Boehm, who were shot at Cheb, as martyrs, and use the incident as an opportunity for a fresh frenzied outburst.