NAZI BOASTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23129, 30 August 1938, Page 11

NAZI BOASTS

BEHIND SUDETENS CZECHS DENOUNCED APPEAL TO HENLEIN RUNCIMAN'S ANXIETY MODERATION URGED By Telegraph—Fress Association—Copyright (Received. August 30, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, August 29 "Speaking at the annual congress of overseas Germans at Stuttgart, Herr llcss, the right-hand man of Herr Hitler, denounced the "oppression" of'the Sudeten Germans jn Czechoslovakia, and declared that Germany was solidly behind them, says the Daily Telegraph. Dr. Frick, Minister of tho Interior, said that Germans overseas need no longer feel defenceless, since behind them stood the might of the new Germany. A threat to denationalise Aryan Germans living abroad if they do not demonstrate) more loyal adherence to Kazi-ism, was made by Herr Boelile. leader of tho Nazis' foreign organisation. .

Herr Boehle said the majority of the Germans abroad were loyal to Naziism but ho threatened drastic reprisals to traitors who from the safety of their foreign residence criticised Nazi-ism. He denied that Nazi-ism encouraged spying, and he especially attacked British allegations of German espionage.

Only 18,000 delegates, many of whom were diplomatic or consular officials, were present as compared with 60,000 last year. It reliably stated in Prague that Viscount Runciman yesterday tried to induce Herr Heulein to water down the eight points of his Carlsbad speech in view of the growing gravity of the international situation.

■* 'Lord Runeiman returned to Prague last night, but beyond the fact that his interview with Herr Henlein lasted for two hours, nothing is allowed to be known of its purport, although it is 'everywhere surmised that he appealed to the'Sudeten Germans to reciprocate the Czechs' conciliatory gesture. Herr Henlein's Parliamentary doputy, Herr Franck, in a speech, said: "Matters have been brought before us on which it is necessary to make an immediate but we cannot up any of, the rights God has conferred upon us." t, ,• Well-informed circles in Berlin consider the situation is particularly grave, because the inspired German press has worked up the public to expect that something positive will be done. Sir John Simon's speech on Saturday has shaken the belief that Britain will be a passive spectator.

Sneaking at a Sudeten German congress at Carlsbad on April 21 last, Herr Henlein enunciated the following ti<,nt demands "in order to pavo the way for peaceful development (1) JMiIJ equalitv of status for Czechs and Germans: (2) a guarantee for this equality by the recognition of the Sudeten C*crmans as a legal body incorporate; M determination and legal recognition ot the German" areas within the State; (4) full self-government for the German areas;, (5) legal protection for every citizen living outside the area ot his own nationality; (6) removal of the injustices inflicted in 1918 and reparation for the damage thereby caused; (7) recognition of the principle that there should be German officials within the German areas; (») lull libfTtv to profess German nationality ami 6erman political philosophy. Before announcing the demands Herr Henlein said: "if the Czech statesmen are striving for a better understanding with Germany, then it becomes inevitable to carry out (1) a wholesale revision of the Czech myth of their own history; (2) a correction of that unfortunate opinion that it is the particular task of the Czech people to form a bulwark ' against tlio so-called German 'Drang nach Osten 1 (drive to the east); (.3) a revision of Czechoslovak foreign policy, which has led the country into the' ranks of tho enemies of the German people." MUSHROOM ARMY GERMAN WEAKNESSES OPINIONS OF EXPERTS INFERIOR TO THAT OF 1914 BERLIN, August 22 Although the new Germany Army is developing rapidly in modern effectiveness and man-power, it suffers from dbfects common to mushroom growth particularly as regards the efficiency of its officer corps. It is definitely inferior to the old Imperial Army in its general staff organisation and regimental lead-

ership. For more than 10 years no trained personnel were passing out of the Army; hence its weakness in reserves and in power of absorption and rapid expansion. British,,and French military experts, who have been studying the present manoeuvres, have como to theso con-

elusions. The German Army lacks offensive and staying power —hence the quiet confidence of the French Command, who have < refrained from mobilising their covering - forces for the Maginot defences. The availability of trained officers and specialists is a key requirement of ex.pansion. Specialists are far more essential to-day than in the 1914 type. . of army, and officers take longer to train.