HIGH TENSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 15

HIGH TENSION

SUDETEN DISTRICTS RESIDENTS' FLIGHT BAILWAYS CROWDED PRAGUE BUYS GAS MASKS PLANS FOB. EMERGENCY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September 10, p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10 The Czechs have proclaimed martial law in five more districts owing to further incidents. Half of the Sudeten areas are now under martial law. Special train services have been prepared to evacuate the Czechs and non-Nazi Germans in case of emergency. The highest tension exists at Eger, where armed troops are parading the streets searching people for arms. 'I he Sudeten German headquarters, the Hotel Victoria, is an.empty ruin after the previous night's fight. All those arrested, except one, have been released. Tho shops are closed, although municipal officers are urging people to resume work. The station is crowded by fleeing residents. Carlsbad is more normal. The roads to the frontier are subject to the closest supervision. Business at the large Sudeten town of Beiehonberg, has been brought to a standstill by a strike, which has spread also to factories aijd schools in other towns. Prague is quiet, but there are long queues in the shops which sell gas masks. An increasing stream of refugees is pouring into Praguo from the Sudeten areas. They are mostly German SocialDemocrats, women, children and aged sick. Jt is estimated that 3000 refugees are under the care of the Red Cross and charity organisations. A German news agency says that more than 5000 Sudeten Germans have fled to Germany, including many young men. who have been ordered to the mobilisation camp, which has been established at Zittau.

CZECH RESERVISTS TWO CLASSES CALLED UP MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S MISSION ANXIETY OVER RESULT PRAGUE, Sept. 15 Two classes of reservists have been called up in the last two days to strengthen the frontier garrisons. Although Mr. Chamberlain's mission* is ])raised here as being bold and dramatic, feeling is tinged with suspicion and anxiety lest a settlement should be to a certain degree at Czechoslovakia's expense. It is "felt that the crisis can only be solved either by war or by what virtually aindunts to amputation. Herr Kundt. Sudeten deputy, summed up his party's view, pointing to a newspaper announcement of Mr. Chamberlain's visit, and saying: "This i> the important news. All the rest is immaterial. ' LABOUR'S ATTITUDE RETICENCE ON SITUATION LONDON, Sept. J•"> The joint Labour Party cxecu- ! tives, after a three-hour meeting, decided, in view of Mr. Chamberlain's mission, that no good purpose j would lie served by expressing its opinion. RESIGNATION DENIED (Received September 10, .">.5 p.m.) BTSHLTN, Sept. Ir, The reported resignation of General I Ludwig Heck, Chief of the Gorman I General Stall, is officially denied.