POSITION DEFINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1938, Page 7

POSITION DEFINED

FRANCE BOUND TO ASSIST CZECHOSLOVAKIA In Event of Attack by Germany BRITAIN AND RUSSIA WILL STAND BY FRANCE By Telegraph —Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, September 26. A BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE COMMUNIQUE STATES: “IF A GERMAN ATTACK IS MADE AGAINST CZECHOSLOVAKIA, THE IMMEDIATE RESULT MUST BE THAT FRANCE WILL BE BOUND TO COME TO HER ASSISTANCE, AND BRITAIN AND RUSSIA WILL CERTAINLY STAND BY FRANCE.’’

NEW DEMANDS

WHY THE CZECHS MOBILISED REPLY TO WORLD-WIDE PROPAGANDA. SUGGESTIONS REPUDIATED. •LONDON, September 26. A radio broadcast from Prague today said: “World-wide propaganda is endeavouring to depict us as enemies of peace. It is alleged that our mobilisation . was ordered to disrupt the Chamberlain-Hitler conference. We repudiate such a suggestion. “On the contrary, last Wednesday the Czechs accepted the Anglo-French proposals, although they went far beyond the demands of the Sudetens, because France recommended it. “France said that she would not be concerned with the fate of Czechoslovakia unless we accepted. “No sooner were the Anglo-French proposals accepted than new demands were made at Godesberg. Every occasion has brought new demands. “Mr Chamberlain knew that the later demands could not be accepted, and the French and British Ministers said that they could not recommend their acceptance, and urged that military preparations be made.” BRITAIN’S POLICY MOBILISATION NOT OPPOSED. CORRECTION OF STATEMENT BY CZECHS. LONDON, September 26. It is stated in official circles that the British Government informed the Czechs that Britain would not continue to take the responsibility for advising the Czechs not to mobilise. The statement said that the Czechs must consider that their mobilisation might precipitate similar action in other countries. The statement that the Czech mobilisation was undertaken with the advice and approval of Britain was therefore not entirely in accordance with the facts. VISITING LONDON FRENCH COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. WILL CONFER WITH BRITISH MINISTERS. LONDON, September 26. An official report issued in London states that General Gamelin, the French Commander-in-Chief, is flying to London. His purpose is believed to be to join in the discussions with the British Ministers. RETURN TO PARIS (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 26. After lunching with Viscount Gort (Chief of the Imperial General Staff), General Gamelin left fpr Paris. AGAINST AIR RAIDS EXERCISES IN HUNGARY (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) BUDAPEST, September 26. The first large-scale air raids precaution exercises have been carried out. PRIESTS AS SOLDIERS MANY CALLED UP TN FRANCE (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) PARIS, September 26. Cardinal Verdier throughout the day blessed many priests called up as reservists. HOMEWARD BOUND FRENCH MINISTERS LEAVE LONDON (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON. September 26. The French Ministers are leaving for Paris at 3 p.m.

READY FOR THE WORST

RAPID HEADWAY MADE IN MOBILISATION FIGHTING ON THE FRONTIER. CZECH TROOPS AND FREE CORPS ENGAGED. LONDON, September 26. The Budapest correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that every citizen of Prague is ready , foi’ the worst. Gas masks carried day and night in canisters no longer arouse comment. Blackout periods occur nightly, while planes circle overhead. Mobilisation scenes are obvious at every station in Slovakia, while long goods trains, loaded with field kitchens, occupy Sidings. Men joining the colours fill every' type of passenger and goods carriages. ' The Vienna correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that 500 yards inside Czechoslovakia, opposite Bratislava, the road crosses triple barbedwire entanglements, which, it is believed, extend all round the country. Concrete barriers and entanglements lie on either side of the road in order to close it at a moment’s notice. Telephone communication between Bratislava. Prague, and Vienna is impossible. The Asch correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that firing broke out in earnest between Asch and Eger, where Czech troops and members of the Sudeten Free Corps are entrenched. The Czechs started a regular battle at Rosenreuth by firing two machineguns down the road to .Asch. Within a minute both lines were firing steadily. At Liebenstein, after an hour of intense firing, the Sudeten forces were driven into houses. A Budapest message says that the official Czech news agency reports that the Government has decreed, that all women between the ages of 17 and 60 have been brought into the compulsory labour service. All under-age and over-age civilians in Czechoslovakia have been called up to serve the country in some capacity and also to place wealth at the disposal of the Government if necessary. General Krejci, who has been appointed commander-in-chief, superintended the construction of the Czech fortifications in the Sudeten mountains, begun in 1936. Eight members of the Cabinet, including Dr Kroftp and M. Czerny, have been appointed members of the Supreme Defence Council. President Benes is receiving numerogus telegrams from all parts of the world sympathising with Czechoslovakia. The Czech Legation in London has received many offers of enlistment in the Czecn forces. CONSIDERED NEGATIVE CZECH REPLY TO POLAND NEGOTIATIONS TEMPORARILY BROKEN OFF (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) WARSAW, September 26. ’ Cabinet considered the Czech reply to the demand for the return of the Teschen area. It is stated that the reply does not make any new contribution, and that therefore it can be regarded as negative. Officials regard the negotiations as temporarily broken off. BELGIAN DEFENCES COMPLETION OF EARLIER MEASURES. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) BRUSSELS, September 26. Mechanised cavalry and fortress troops have been recalled, “completing military measures taken previously.” SUDETEN REFUGEES TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND IN GERMANY. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) BERLIN, September 26. It is officially stated that 200,000 refugees have arrived in Germany from Sudetenland.