CZECHOSLOVAKIA FACES FRESH CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 143, 13 March 1939, Page 9

CZECHOSLOVAKIA FACES FRESH CRISIS

Grave Situation After Attempted Slovak Rising TROOPS MOVING UP; MANY ARRESTS MADE Fears Of Possible Intervention By Germany (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received March 12, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 12. Tension continues throughout Slovakia following the dismissal of the Slovakian Premier, Dr. Tiso, and two Ministers, by the President, Dr. Hacha, in order to foil a rising by Slovak autonomists with the object of seceding from the State. Czech troops moved into Slovakia over the weekend and occupied all public buildings and strategic positions. Martial law was proclaimed in several districts. Bratislava (capital of Slovakia) is the main centre of unrest. The radio station yesterday announced the overthrow of the provisional Government set up after M. Tiso’s dismissal. It is reported from Prague that the President has appointed a new Cabinet under the ptemiership of M. Sidor, Deputy Premier of Czechoslavakia. M Sivak. who, after the dismissal of Dr. Tiso, was appointed by the President to act as Premier, has telegraphed from Rome, where he is representing Czechoslovakia at the coronation of the Pope, refusing the premiership and demanding the withdrawal of Czech troops from Bohemia and Moravja.

The Prague Government yesterday appealed to the Slovak people to remain loyal to the republic. It is reported that, as a precautionary measure, they have armed the most trustworthy Czech citizens in Slovakian areas.

Czech troops confiscated thousands of rifles and huge quantities of ammunition at the headquarters of the Hlinka Guards (autonomist storm troopers) in Bratislava, and also disarmed storm troopers of the German Nazi Party. The railway stations are guarded. newspapers are not publishing. and the people are forbidden to' listen to foreign broadcasts. Sixty Hlinka Guards, including the majority of the leaders of the inoteinenf, have been arrested. The separatist leaders, M. Tueba and M. Mach, have also been arrested. Czech troops pre reported to be concentrating in East Moravia, near the Slovak border. Meanwhile, fears expressed at the beginning of I lie crisis that the Slovaks would appeal to Germany for aid appear likely to be realized. Today a crowd of 10.000 gathered in Bratislava in order to celebrate the anniversary of the aiiscbliiss of Austria and Germany. M. Kariiiasin, leader of the German minority, declared his solidarity with Hie Slovaks. Shots were tired and Jewish shops raided. Slovak extremists and Germans regard Dr. Tiso as tiie only possible Premier. In another speech yesterday M. Karmasin said: “The German national group stands under the protection of Herr Hitler. It will have common cause with the Slovaks.” “Bolshevik Terrorism.” il. Murgac, chief of the political section of the Hlinka Guards, issued a proclamation stating that the Slovaks had been betrayed to Czech and Bolshevik terrorism. He appealed for unity with the German minority in order to turn out the Czech traitors and free Slovakia. In Berlin Itself there is no official comment on the situation, but the Press is openly sympathetic to the Slovaks. It declares that Prague has learned nothing from past experience and is resorting to terroristic methods as it did in the Sudetenland. Herr Kundt, Parliamentary leader of the Sudeten Germans, issued a statement that Germany’s advice to Prague is to step carefully. It is confirmed in semi-official quarters in Berlin that Dr. Tiso’s Government protested to Germany.

HITLER GUARDS NEAR FRONTIER Marching Men Delay Motorists <lndependent Cable Service.) (Received March 13, 12.10 u.in.) BERLIN, March 12. The German official news agency, in a message from Prague, says that live Slovaks were killed and 14 seriouslj’ injured during the disturbances. German newspapers report incidents of bloodshed throughout Slovakia. Motorists were delayed near Dresden, near the Czech frontier, by the passage of 5000 Hitler Guards going south-east. They were informed that the men were merely doing their normal night training. NAZI ABUSE OF CZECH GOVERNMENT (Received March 12, 11.30 p.m.) VIENNA, March 12. A radio broadcast today abused the Czechoslovakia Government and demanded the release of the arrested Slovak separatist leaders.