PRESS ATTACKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 15

PRESS ATTACKS

THE CZECH SITUATION GERMAN VIEW OF ALLEGED INCIDENT BRITISH SERVICE CRITICISED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON. June 3. (Received June 3, at 9 p.m.) The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that further press outbursts against Czechoslovakia were prompted by the alleged incident on May 29. when Czechoslovakian soldiers confiscated a swastika flag from a German couple and threatened them with bayonets. The Official News Agency declares that the British Secret Service was responsible for the calling up of the Czech reserves during the recent crisis, and alleges that the Government was informed that the Secret Service had information of German troop movements on the frontier, resulting in a state of alarm. MISS MITFORD REAPPEARS SEARCHED BY CZECH POLICE “A NEW ACT OF TERROR” PRAGUE, June 2. “ I am simply furious,” said Miss Unity Mitford, referring to her detention and search by Czech police on the Prague-Carlsbad road on May 31. She added that a gendarme snatched a framed photograph of Herr Hitler which she was carrying. The frame was broken in the tussle, but she retained the picture. She was then taken to a police post, where, in the presence of a woman, she was forced to undress completely, and every article of clothing was examined. Everyone was most abusive. Miss Mitford’s property was later returned, with the exception of her camera and films. She is still under the supervision of the police, and will leave for Germany to-night. The Berlin newspapers are seizing on the Mitford incident for the purpose of an attack on Czechoslovakia, describing the arrest as a new act of terror. They ask what the British public intend to do about another European scandal.

At a big demonstration recently in Hyde Park, which passed a resolution condemning non-intervention In Spain, the crowd charged a smart blonde wearing a swastika. The police formed a cordon and placed the girl and her male escort aboard a bus. The Daily Telegraph says the girl wearing the swastika was Unity Freeman Mitford, daughter of Lord Redesdale.