CZECHS TURN ON OPPRESSORS

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 11

CZECHS TURN ON OPPRESSORS

Revolts in Bohemia and Moravia SLOVAK GARRISONS JOIN CITIZENS $ Ruthless Repressive Measures " ' Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. i LONDON, September 20. i. (Received September 21, at 10 a.m.) The Ministry of Information states that it is learned from authoritative circles that a revolutionary movement started on Sunday in Bohemia and Moravia, and was preceded a few days previously by labour demonstrations in Prague, There were considerable casualties on both sides. The Ministry of Information adds that between September 17 and 19 riots occurred in a number of places in Bohemia and Moravia, including Pardubice, Pilsen, Tabor, Pisek, and Brno. In the last-named town a proportion of the German-Czech community made common cause with the Czechs. On September 19 the movement spread to western Slovakia. Slovak garrisons at Ruzomberok, Zilina, and Trencin revolted and about 15,000 troops have been disarmed, 1 When the German authorities realised that they were not dealing with sporadic outbursts but with an organised movement ruthless jneasures were at once taken. The list of those arrested runs into thousands and those executed into hundreds. Repressive measures do not appear to have had the effect intended. The fight against superior forces and ruthless tyranny continues with courage’and determination. The fact that this is not just a flash in the pan is shown by the unanimity of purpose, tenacity, and discipline of the participants. Those who had no firearms seized any weapons handy. Labourer’s wives in Prague were content with boards studded with nails with which to strike at the enemy . While it lasted the fight was relentless and grim with no quarter given on either side. In the course of the revolt considerable material damage was done. Bridges on important railways and roads were demolished, fire stations were put out of action, railway rollingstock and material were damaged, and workshops of important factories were bombed and machinery destroyed. . The older classes of Slovak sqldiers are the most reca Icitrant and consequently the Government has ordered the demobilisation of reservists in the age group 35 to 40. The Belgrade correspondents of the Paris ‘ Le Jour ’ and ‘ Echo de Paris ’ report a new revolt of troops in Bratislava. Sabotage has assumed dangerous proportions.