CZECH OFFICERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1938, Page 6

CZECH OFFICERS

AUTHORS OF PROCLAMATION TO BE TRIED ACTION BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE. GOVERNMENT EMBARRASSED IN NEGOTIATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Recd This Day, 11.55 a.m.) PRAGUE, August 14. The Defence Minister, M. F. Machnik, who has ordered the trial of officers responsible for the proclamation reported on Saturday, charges the authors of the document with indulging in politics while members of the Army. The Government Is reported to be embarrassed in its negotiations with the Sudetens as the result of a proclamation, which is 'said to represent the views of most Army officers, who oppose Dr. Hodza’s conciliatory attitude to minorities. A cablegram from Prague on Saturday stated that the Czech Officers’ League had issued a proclamation that it was determined to defend Masaryk’s inheritance and that the State’s authority must under no circumstances be lessened, undermined or abused. “From this position,” the proclamation declared, “we will not retreat. We may die, but we shall not retreat.” ALARM IN PRAGUE GERMAN TROOPS MASSED ROUND FRONTIER SOOTHING ASSURANCES DISCOUNTED (Recd This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. The “News Chronicle’s” Prague correspondent says disquieting reports are reaching Prague from the entire Czechoslovakian frontier. Although Berlin emphasises the harmless character of the manoeuvres, by far the greatest part of the German troops are surrounding Czechoslovakian frontier. It is reliably understood that 100,000 men, under the command of General von Arnim are in County Glatz, protruding like a tongue into Czechoslovakia. \