CZECH DEFENCE SYSTEM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 10

CZECH DEFENCE SYSTEM

Capacity for Resistance

MODERN EQUIPMENT BUT MANS}'

TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES

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The question every general staff in Europe must be asking at the moment is: How long could the Czechs hold out? Writing in “The Times” recently. Sir Philip Gibbs said that “within 24 hours of war Czechoslovakia would have disappeared from the map” On the other hand, the Czech army authorities are reputed to believe that they could hold their first line for three weeks and their second line for three months.

Early this year, in a speech in the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill ironically reminded his hearers that the Czechs were by no means negligible allies.

No doubt (he said) they are only a small democratic State, no doubt they have an army two or three times as large as ours, no doubt they have a munitions supply only thrae times as great as Italy ...

Since that time, and particularly since May last* Chwcfaoslovakia’s defence system has been the subject of much Mxwtf study.

Czechoslovakia, being long and slender in shape, has about 1750 miles of frontier to defend. The army is therefore organised in seven army corps, divided among four provincial commands. Its peacetime strength has been about 180,000, though it was probably greater in the .early part of this year as a result of the extension of compulsory service from two to three years. The army is composed of some 14 infantry divisions, each of which is supported by artillery, that _is becoming increasingly mechanised in spite of the difficulty of obtaining petrol, and by companies of sappers, signallers, of anti-tank and antiaircraft gun crews. In addition there are 11 “frontier defence battalions,” recruited wholly from picked Czechs and Slovaks, cavalry brigades and tank corps. Apart from the divisional artillery and that of two mountain brigades, there are four artillery regiments in each of the categories of. anti-aircraft, light, heavy and extra-heavy, while four detachments are attached to the cavalry. There are also one artillery reconnaissance regiment and seven transport battalions. These are all motorised and very adequately equipped. Although it may be regarded as a young army today it carries a tradition of centuries of fighting that caused Bismarck to say: “He who masters Bohemia masters Europe.” The Czechs saw their full share of conflict in the World War and the exploits of their legionaries —all fighting with a sentence on their heads if captured—has become legendary. In May, when facing the crisis of elections, the Government decreed that all between the ages of six and 60 should take part in some form of military or defence service. Navy Czechoslovakia also possesses a navy of about 25 river craft, attached to the engineers. It includes minesweepers and mine-layers and one ship' armed with 7.5 <fc.nL guns. ’lt might have a small but important part to play. Only this year the formation of a German Danube flotilla was reported. A German fleet, with Hungarian co-operation, could harass the Czech positions on the banks, and generally protect the eastern flank of an army attacking the narrow middle of Czechoslovakia. Co-operation from Hungary, at least in the form of a benevolent neutrality, seems assured. In May the commander-in-chief of the German Navy, Admiral Raeder, visited Budapest. Air Force The Czechoslovak air force is better organised for defence than attack. There are many more fighters and reconnaissance aircraft than bombers. Its first-line strength consists of about 800 machines, which is supported by a second line of 800 aeroplanes of the same quality. Behind the fighting force stands the Masaryk Flying League, a voluntary organisation whose membership of 100,000 provides a large reserve of partly-trained pilots. In spite of its weaknesses her geographical position has compensations. Czechoslovakia is better placed for receiving help by air and for doing retaliatory damage to her neighbours than is Spain. Assistance in the form of French and Russian aircraft could be given almost without delay. To-day more than 150 aerodromes are available for military purposes. Furthermore the bulk of her people do not live in towns to the extent the Germans do, while her key industries have been decentralised.

Although their frontiers are lona the Czechoslovaks may gain the fun advantage which the defensive tends to have in modern warfare when both sides are well equipped. The danger is that Czechoslovakia may become a second Belgium. Insufficient to withstand prolonged onslaught her defences may be strong enough to check a victorious march and to bring the other Great Powers into the field.

To back up these forces Czechoslovakia has the armaments industry of a Great Power. With Creusol

and Krupp Skoda possesses one A the most extensive plants in Europe. Besides covering home needs it has maintained a large export trade, and is said, to produce more than 1000 aeroplanes a year. Steps have been taken to exclude the employment of men whose loyalty is doubtful. Vital industries that were located near the frontiers have been removed mainly into the eastern half of the country. But as might be expected of a land-locked country, CmcLuAjvakia’s armament industry has an Achilles* heel. Its raw material* are very largely imported, and therefore at the mercy of her neighbours. For the air force and other essential demands the authorities have maintained stocks of petrol and oil enough to last three months of intense warfare. After that, everything will depend on her relations and communications with Rumania. A hostile Poland and a hostile Hungary could close these lines. But a warring Hungary will very likely bring the Rumanian army into the field; and Russia may act too quickly for Germany’s potential allies. The railways, which the Czechoslovak Republic inherited from the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, give every facility for switching reinforcements across the country from north to south and vice versa. But those running east and west are few and bad. The one and only line connecting Western Slovakia with Ruthenia, the easternmost tip of the country, is dangerously exposed from the Hungarian frontier. The one good road runs parallel with this frontier and within 15 to 25 miles of it.

Economically Czechoslovakia is in a much sounder position than Germany. A wise determination not to be involved in Dr. Schacht’s wideflung economic net has resulted in Germany taking only 21 per cent, of Czechoslovakia’s exports. German credit abroad makes . a sorry comparison with Czech, which is synonymous with bash payment. Frontier Fortifications The strength of Czechoslovakia’s frontier fortifications is vital, but difficult to estimate. Although expenditure on fbrtifying these enormous frontiers has been limited, the Czechs have benefited by French experience gained in the construction of the Maginot Line. Zones of fortification, subtly arranged in-depth, using natural advantages and supplementing any lack of them, have been built, more especially along, the old German frontier. Similar works have been rapidly thrown up along the Austrian frontier. The Hungarian front has been fortifled strongly enough, in the Judgment of the Czechs, to meet any possible danger. Apparently tbe Polish frontier is more or less undefended. "Our fortifications really consist of a chain of machine-gun nests that the enemy will encounter on cross-, ing the frontier,” said Major Rudolph Brdz, an officer of the general staff, recently in a nation-wide broadcast. “Not only will the enemy suffer heavy losses trying to break through this line, but an attempt to overrun our country by a sudden push will dissolve itself Into a series of individual battles.”