CRITICAL OUTLOOK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1938, Page 7

CRITICAL OUTLOOK

DECLARATION BY CZECH PRESIDENT PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING! HOPES THAT WAR MAY BE AVOIDED. PRAGUE, May 22. “There has been no more critical time since the Great War,” declared the President of Czechoslovakia, Dr Benes, in a speech at Tabor. "We are not afraid. We are prepared for everything, but must not permit ourselves to be disunited.” Expressing the hope that war would be avoided, Dr Benes mentioned Anglo-French friendship and Anglo-Italian agreement as factors' promoting peace. Two Sudeten farmers were killed early on Saturday morning in the frontier town of Cheb (Eger). They disregarded a notice to stop and police fired on them.

An official statement refers to the shooting. It relates how the two Sudeten Germans, George Hofmann and Nickolas Boehm, who were riding along on motor-cycles, refused to stop when a policeman ordered them. They speeded up and headed for the policeman, who leaped aside and fired at the front tyre. The fact that the road rises steeply is believed to be the reason for the bullet striking the riders, who died in hospital. A criminal charge has been brought against the policeman. An official account of. an incident at Chomotau declares that 300 Sudeten Germans unprecedently provoked Czech troops, shouting offensive slogans and spitting in their faces. Among them was the burgomaster, Herr Herbricht. who spat in the face of a Czech officer. Herr Nemec, Henlein Deputy, incited and led the crowds in attempting to wrench bayonets and rifles away from the troops. In spite of a German statement that 100 were injured, only six or eight were slightly hurt. All were able to walk home. says the party will not enter negotiations with the Czech Government on the minorities statute until the terrorism, which is being organised against it, ceases, and order is restored in the Sudeten German area. It also asserts that the Czech Government has not created conditions enabling the party to begin negotiations on an equal footing. The Sudeten Party’s declaration renews the demand for freedom of thought in the Press and at public meetings, and alleges that the police are not fulfilling their protective role on the occasion of assaults on Sudetens, whose headquarters are now guarded by police and gendarmes. ARMY RESERVES CALLED UP. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Saturday decided to recall to Colours a section of the army reserve. It is officially explained that this is purely in the interests of internal security and not directed against anyone. Government officials declare that the summoning of reservists is particularly designed to maintain peace during the elections today, after a protest from the Sudeten Germany Party alleging that the Czech forces for public order are not maintaining peace in some sections. Rumours that they are partly or wholly mobilising are not true. The War Office claims that the precautionary calling up of reserves is completed. It has had a calming effect on the Sudeten areas. The remainder of the country is quiet. Those called up comprise the 1898 class, including less-trained older men, who are summoned in order to be trained in the use of modern weapons in addition to strengthening the forces. It is explained that the measure does not constitute mobilisation. The number called up is not disclosed, but it includes Sudeten Germans, who have been swiftly transferred to barracks distanct from their own districts. MOBILISATION DENIED British, French and German Ministers called on the Czech Foreign Minister, Dr Krofta, on Saturday and in | quired the reason for calling up re-

serves. Dr Krofta said the reserves were required to maintain order in towns during the absence of troops sent to the frontier to keep peace. The Government has broadcast an appeal for the maintainance of order. The Sudeten executive has issued a statement contending that the calling up of reserves is tantamount to mobilisation and alleging that Czechs are entrenching the -frontier and arming Czech civilians in Sudeten areas, in which they have established large munitions stores. Herr Frank Sudeten deputy, at Dr Hodza’s invitation, conferred with the Premier to determine the methods of maintaining peace. The summoning of reserves has led to a rush to buy gas masks. Officials are investigating reports of Storm Troop concentrations on the Czechoslovak border, but responsible quarters believe that if the reports are true they represent only a move to influence waverers’ votes in the elections today, in which Nazi gains are expected. Excitement is at a high pitch in the Sudeten areas.