GROWING TENSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 14 March 1939, Page 5

GROWING TENSION

SLOVAK CRISIS POLICE CLOSE BRIDGES STORM TROOPERS ARRIVE BOMBING OF HOUSES HITLER PROTECTION CALL (Klnc. Tel. Copyright—Urtitcd Press Assn.) (Reed. March 14, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 13. A message from Prague states that the Slovak Ministers of the new Cabinet were sworn in to-day. The Czech President, Dr,, Hacha, has postponed the Parliamentary session from to-morrow until March 28. Armoured cars patrol Bratislava and tension was to-day reported to be growing. A Bratislava message . states ; that Slovakia was cut off from Austria at midnight when gendarmes closed all the Danube bridges to prevent arms coming in from Austria. It is now impossible to enter or leave Slovakia. The German Storm Troopers have arrived at Bratislava from nearby towns in full uniform and carrying arms and ammunition. It is reported that 50 small bombs were thrown at houses in Bratislava. Release of Ministers The Prague correspondent of The Times says that the deposed Premier of Slovakia, M. Tiso and 230 imprisoned Slovak intelligensia have been released. M. Tuca was taken to Tabor and M. Mach to Brno. Prague reports that M. Tiso left to-day for Berlin at the express invitation of Herr Hitler. The new Slovak Premier, M. Sidor, has postponed the conference with the Central Government, owing to the increased tension. The Czechoslovak Cabinet is discussing the situation to-day. M. Sidor is reported to have conferred with M. Tiso and M. Mach, who is a pro-German, without result M. Murjos, the political chief of the Hlinka Guard, accused M. Sidor of betraying independent Slovakia. M. Murjos sought freedom from the oath of loyalty. M. Sidor refused. M. Murjos then went to Vienna, where he broadcast to the Hlinka Guard supporters suggesting an independent Slovakia be established under Herr Hitler's protection and advising them to prepare for a life-and-death struggle. Historic Mission M. Durcanski, broadcasting from Vienna, said that the historic mission of Slovakia was to provide a bridge between Germany and the East. The moment for the decision was near. .The Czech Minister to Berlin has been instructed to protest against the German press campaign and the use of Vienna radio for the transmission of mutinous! and treasonable speeches. Hlinka Guards who are protecting their own buildings with rifles and fixed bayonets called a mass meeting at Bratislava to-night in order to hear M. Mach and M. Tuca.jCrowds hooted M. Fritz, the Slovak Minister of Justice, on his arrival from Prague. The spokesman for Herr Karmasin, the German minority leader, declared that the situation was unbearable and that normal conditions must be promptly restored. German help would immediately be obtainable if necessary. The Bratislava correspondent of the official German News Agency, claims that the Czechs assassinated M. Tuca while transferring him to Moravia.