CZECHOSLOVAKIA PREPARED TO FIGHT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 11

CZECHOSLOVAKIA PREPARED TO FIGHT

“No Longer Deserted % Her Allies” 1 SEVERAL DAYS OF AGoJriNG DELAY I- * Great War Veterans Offer to ftejoin Regiment 1 .(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—-COPTRIOBT.) (Received September _27, 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 27. The correspondent of the at Teplice-Sanov says that after several days of afooising waiting and after the surrender of her best industries, mines, and fortifications, Czechoslovakia finds henelf no longer deserted by her allies, and is preparea tofight. “We will not give up, as the Austrians did,” they my, “We know what German domination is like. Thegrst King of Bohemia raised his standard not 10 milesfrom here.” .J ' No wireless news of Cabinet upheavals in London or Paris came through, but only the brief announcement, “We are no longer unsupported.” Veterans of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, which was formed entirely from Czechs, and deserted as one men from the Austrian Army to fight against it in the Great War, are volunteering to rejoin its ranks. Men come from all parts shouting and singing, carrying one: day’s food supply, to join the troop! trains going to the front “Der Tag has come, but not for us,” was the comment of the Sudeten Germans. . '

“ STILL READY TO POLAND S DEMAND

NEGOTIATE ” Dr. Benes Replies To Mr Roosevelt WAR NO SOLUTION OP PROBLEM (Received September 27, 11' p.m.)

PRAGUE, September 27,

The President (Dr. Series), replying to Mr Roosevelt’s appeal for the continuation of the negotiations for a settlement, said successive Czech Governments had abided by the principles of peace for 20 years, and would never violate the Kel-logg-Briand Pact.

The country, he said, still desired to see the present J crisis resolved peacefully, and in spite of its readiness to accept enormous sacrifices, was still ready to negotiate with Germany.

The nation would defend itself if attacked, but it was profoundly convinced that war would not solve the problem.

WOMEN LEAVE FOREIGN LEGATIONS

PRAGUE, September 27

An announcement early to-day said the German and Italian. Ministers with the Legation staffs had departed, but Reuters later learned that only the womenfolk of the Italian, German, and United States Legations had left. The Ministers and staffs remain.

BRITAIN URGED TO RESIST

LABOUR LEADER . OPPOSES GERMAN DEMANDS

LONDON, September 26,

Mr C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opposition, in a letter to Mr Chamberlain, said: “The terms of Herr Hitler’s memorandum profoundly shocked public opinion. Czechoslovakia could not have done other than refuse them, as they amounted to sheer destruction of Czechoslovakia. The Labour movement urges you to unite with France and the Soviet to resist any attack against the Czechs. “Whatever risks are involved, Britain must stand against aggression. There is no room now for doubts or hesitations. This is our considered, emphatic judgment. I earnestly trust the Government will pursue a policy in conformity with this declaration.

“I don’t believe that Hitler is going to help the Sudetens,” said Mr Attlee. “He does not mention fellow Germans repressed by the Italians in the Tyrol.” An emergency meeting of the National Council of Labour considered the latest developments, information of which was earlier given to Mr Attlee and Mr Greenwood by Mr Chamberlain.

The Labour Party Executive and the executive of the Parliamentary Labour Party will' meet to-morrow to discuss the procedure to be adopted in Parliament.

Mr Attlee addressed a demonstration of 10,000 persons at the Empress Stadium, Earl’s Court, to-night.

head offices to towns in south-west France.

The more valuable paintings in the Louvre are being removed to bomb-proof shelters. M. Edouard Herriot appealed to everyone at Lyons to leave for the country.

During the night and morning further men were called up according to individual qualifications.

FOR TESCHEN Reply Regarded As Negative ASSURANCE SEEN IN

HITLER’S SPEECH

(Received September 27, 8.30

WARSAW, September; 26.

The Cabinet considered the C*ech reply to the demand for thereto™ of Teschen. ! It was said that the replyVdoes not make a new contribution' and, ‘ therefore, can be regarded as negative. 1 : -

Officials regard the negotiations as temporarily broken off. , , ' Polish circles received Herr ' Hitler’s speech favourably, describing it as a clear statement of ideas for a peaceful settlement. ' , Political circles do not doubt tbatHerr Hitler will act forcefully ‘if the Sudeten areas are not yielded . on October 1. , ,■ The statement that his territorial ’ demands will be satisfied when he obtains Stidetenland, with the refer- r ‘ ence to the Polish non-aggressim , pact, are taken as an assurance that, .. no attempt to regain former Germing territory now Polish is likely. ~ A semi-official agency reports that five Czech gendarmes were killed and 15 wounded in a battle with 0 Poles at Teschen. . Other reports state that the Poles'

attacked arsenals, seizing arms and ammunition.

Hundreds of conscripts have gone into tlje forests to avoid mobilisation with the result that all farm work is at a standstill. (

Prague has no confirmation of the * incidents except a report that.nine: Poles were arrested for smuggling! arms across the border. i