SUDETEN VIOLENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1938, Page 5

SUDETEN VIOLENCE

ATTEMPT TO SEIZE TOWN OFFICES TEN THOUSAND HENLEINISTS DISPERSED. DEMONSTRATIONS & OUTRAGES REPORTED. LONDON, September 13. The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that further Henleinist disorders, which followed Herr Hitler’s speech, are believed to have been prearranged in anticipation of the announcement of an invasion. Ten thousand Henleinists at Kraslitz acted as did the Austrian Nazis before the fall of Dr Schuschnigg and tried to seize the post office and municipal offices, but were dispersed by the police. A bomb demolished the Czech school at Falkenhau. Nazi mobs at Eger attacked the Workers’ Club, but were beaten off by the occupants. The Nazis then plundered Czech and Jewish shops. A violent demonstration occurred at Carslbad and letter-boxes at many places were painted with the swastika.

STATE OF EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT DECREE ISSUED MARTIAL LAW IN AREAS OF DISORDER. (Recd This Day, 10.20 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 13.. The Government has proclaimed a state of emergency in the Sudeten departments of Eger, Neudeck, Prozance, Ellbogen and Kagen, with the object of preserving order. A later message states that three more towns —Carlsbad, Falkenau and Krumau —have been included in the emergency decree, under which the police are empowered to restrict personal liberty, the carrying of arms and the wearing of emblems, to search houses without warning, to control correspondence and to forbid meetings. The Sudetens issued a manifesto ordering their followers not to show themselves in the streets. A Government communique, which uses the term "martial law,” icalls on the public in the area where there are disorders to remain quiet and assures the public that the security forces are sufficient to preserve order.

ACTIVE AGGRESSION POLICE POWERS TAKEN OVER AT MARIENBAD. NAZIS ASSUME CONTROL. (Recd This Day, 10.15 a.m.) PRAGUE, September 13. Sudeten, storm troopers have taken over police powers at Marienbad and the party has issued instructions for all businesses and factories to close. ■ Thousands demonstrated in the streets, rendering it impossible for the police to carry out their duties. Nazis, wearing swastika armlets, appeared and took over the polipe work and the police yielded to avoid bloodshed. Tourists and Jews are leaving the city en mass.

ALLEGATIONS & DENIALS. • ALARMING & WIDESPREAD DISORDERS. (Recd This Day, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. Sudetens allege that Czech tanks and soldiers are patrolling the streets at Eger, where two Sudetens were shot dead and two children wounded. They also allege that the Czechs used armoured cars to disperse a crowd of singers. The Czechs say the Sudetens fired the first shot at Aussig and Czechs unfortunately replied. In several places demonstrations reached such alarming proportions that the authorities had to intervene with the utmost energy. Crowds sometimes attempted the occupation of police and railway stations and taxation offices. Three Czechs are among those killed.

RIOT CASUALTIES ELEVEN KILLED & NINETEEN WOUNDED. (Recd This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, September 13. It is officially stated at Prague that eleven persons were killed and nineteen wounded in Czechoslovakia up to 7.30 p.m. SUDETEN ULTIMATUM WITHDRAWAL OF SPECIAL MEASURES. DEMANDED WITHIN SIX HOURS.

(Recd This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, September 13. Reuter’s Prague correspondent says the Sudeten Germans have presented an ultimatum to the Government g’//ing it six hours to withdraw all exceptional measures; otherwise they decline responsibility for the consequences. INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE. SUGGESTION IN FRANCE. (Recd This Day, 10.20 a.m.) PARIS, September 13. French official circles are discussing the formation of an international brigade of British, French and Germans to maintain order in Czechoslovakia, similar to that organised in the Saar district.

The French Cabinet has ratified all military and economic measures in the event of war. The Minister of War has forbidden the export of certain primary products. The Customs at Lille has stopped exports of wool, metals, silks, cotton and other raw materials.