Czech Plot Followed By Many Arrests

Chronicle (Levin), 4 February 1949, Page 5

Czech Plot Followed By Many Arrests

Reeeived Friday, 9.15 a.m. PRAGIJE, Feb. 3. The arrest of General Karl Kutlvasa as leader of a group of alleged conspirators is announced in a joint communique of the Ministers of National Defence and the Interior. , , General Kutlvasa commanded Prague's liberation forces in 1945. He' was reported recently to be among 400 Czech ofncers held in orison since December in connection with a military coup said to have ijeen planned to take place during Christmas. General Kutlvasa is described in the communique as the leader of a group which is charged with storing arms and explosives for terrorist activity, and co-operating with "the spy centre of a Western Power." Charges had been made against 15 members . of the alleged group. The long-delayed announcement confirmed in part reports circulating in recent weeks that up to 400 military leaders were in prison. The authorities are known to have disagreed1 abOut the wisdom of announcing the' diseovery of the alleged plot. It is understood that it was decided to release the information in short "takes ' to spare the public the shock of learning the full extent of the plot. Another 21 Czech soldiers have been accused before a military court of planning an armed rebellion during the national S'okol festivities in June, 1948. The official report containing the accusation said that their plans included the taking over of the Ministry of Defence.