"SIX DAYS TO DECIDE"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22516, 26 September 1938, Page 12

"SIX DAYS TO DECIDE"

Alternatives Before Czechs SIGNOR MUSSOLINI ON THE CRISIS

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.)

(Received September 26, 1 a.m.)

ROME, September 24.

Signer Mussolini states that the Czechs will have until October 1 to answer Herr Hitler's proposals. Political circles in Rome state that October 1 coincides with the meeting of the Fascist Grand Council. It is believed that Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini agreed on the date after a telephone conversation. Thus, in the event of a Czech refusal, the Grand Council will fce ready to cope with the situation. Signor Mussolini said: "It is possible to localise the German-Czech war, but some people think the time has come to settle accounts with the totalitarian States. In that case they will find themselves not before two nations, but one bloc." He added: "Our adversaries beyond the Alps are bound by out-of-date ideologies. They do not know us and they are too stupid to be dangerous. They show themselves to be a quarter of a century behind the times. That is the reason, why we will win in future, and that is why, when 52 members' of the League of Nations, under Dr. Eenes's presidency, agreed to sanctions against Italy, I never doubted the Italians' valour and courage. SUDETEN LEADER [ARRESTED POLICE ACTION TAKEN IN PRAGUE (Received September 26, 2.45 a.m.)

LONDON, September 25,

The Berlin correspondent of the Exchange News Agency says the Czech police arrested Herr Kundt, the Parliamentary leader of the Sudetens, .vho has been in Prague for the last fortnight.

They also arrested Herr Wagner special correspondent of the Scherl publishing house, Herr ledel, Budapest correspondent for a number of German papers, and other German residents.

POLES CLASH WITH CZECHS

FRONTIER SKIRMISHES REPORTED

(Received September 26, 1.30 a.m.)

LONDON, September 25,

Reports from Warsaw allege that several Poles were killed and wounded in clashes at Teschen. Czech gendarmes with machineguns repulsed Poles who were attacking the police station with hand grenades. Another skirmish at Frysztat lasted two hours. Two Poles were killed and many wounded at Trzynic. The atmosphere in Warsaw is calm. The army and technical reservists have been given 24 hours to report. Polish insurgents and Czech police clashed at Sikora on the Czech side of Teschen. "Le Petit Parisien" says that as a result of the Czech military measures the Polish frontier was closed at midnight. » The Prague correspondent of the Exchange News Agency says the Government has closed the CzechHungarian frontier. BRITISH ARMY CHANGES (BRITISH OFFICIAI. WIRELXBB.) RUGBY, September 23. Opening the new barracks of the Royal Tank Corps at Warminster, the Secretary of State for War (Mr L Hore-Belisha) said it was understood that a complete programme provided £12,000,000 for the building and modernisation of barracks in the next two years. Mr Hore-Belisha also referred to the operation next week of the farreaching Army reforms recently made public, by which the prospects for promotion from the ranks in the Army were widened. On October 1, about 1000 noncommissioned officers would be promoted to warrant officers, Class 3, to hold command of platoons and equivalent sub-units hitherto commanded by subalterns.