TWO HOURS FROM WAR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22521, 1 October 1938, Page 17

TWO HOURS FROM WAR

DISCLOSURE MADE IN ROME "MUSSOLINI THE SAVIOUR OF EUROPE" (UKITED PKES9 ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 30, 10 p.m.) LONDON, September 30. That Europe was two hours from war at noon on September 28 is the disclosure made from reliable sources in Rome. The correspondent of the British United Press at Rome says Herri Hitler intended to send an overwhelming force to Czechoslovakia at 2 p.m. on September 28. The British Ambassador (Lord Perth) twice visited the Foreign Minister (Count Ciano), spurring Signor Mussolini into action, for it was noon when he telephoned Herr Hitler, doubtless asking him to postpone action. The Rome correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the widespread relief at the news of the Munich conference was replaced by a feeling of satisfaction and enthusiastic pride at what is described as Signor Mussolini's triumph. The conviction prevails that thanks to him war was averted. The newspapers hail Signor Mussolini as the saviour of Europe. NEWS RECEIVED ON SHIP GERMAN OFFICERS AT • LYTTELTON JUBILATION AND RELIEF ON DESSAU Jubilation and relief, which they unsuccessfully strove to conceal, were shown by the officers of-the German steamer Dessau at Lyttelton when the news that an agreement had been, signed at Munich came through from Daventry shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday. A reporter of "The Press" who boarded the steamer just as the news was coming .through met a young officer racing across the deck, evidently to communicate the news to the engineers below. "Have you heard the news?" he asked the reporter. The reporter said he had. •'lt is all over," said the officer, grinning delightedly as he hurried below, .j In a cabin the reporter found three young officers listening intently ' to the news bulletin from Daventry. A request that he be alI lowed to photograph them met with smiling assent. They talked rather excitedly as he set his camera up, frequently breaking into English for his benefit. "Good news?" queried the reporter. "Too right!" came the rather startling reply in the vernacular. . . As was to be expected, the crisis in Europe has been of absorbing interest to the officers of the Dessau and they took every opportunity of listening both to the rebroadcasts from Daventry and to the German short-wave stations. They told how they had all risen parly in the morning to hear the Fuhrer's broadcast speech from Germany. Newspapers, too, were eagerly purchased each morning. The prospect of being interned so far away from their homeland was not an inviting one, although the imnrpssion was gathered that they considered New Zealand quite a good countrv in which to spend an enforced holiday. MAINTAINING ORDER IN SUDETENLAND (Received September 30. 11 p.m.) 'LONDON, September 30. The "Daily Mail" says that the British Legion has arranged to call up 50,000 picked men of its 500,000 members for service, if called upon, to maintain order in Sudetenland during the demarcation of the frontier.