GERMANS SHOT

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 7

GERMANS SHOT

TENSION ON FRONTIER DISREGARDED NOTICE TO STOP CHARGE AGAINST POLICEMAN United press Assn, —Elec. Tel. copyright PRAGUE. May 22 Two Sudeten German farmers were killed eary yesterday morning at the frontier town of Cheb. They disregarded a notice to stop and a policeman fired on them. A Czech official statement relates that the Sudetens, Georg Hofmann and Nickolas Boehm, were riding a motorcycle and refused to stop when a policeman ordered them to do so. 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 have been the reason for the bullet striking the riders, who died in hospital. A criminal charge has been brought against the policeman. Provocation Given An official account of an incident at Chomotau declares that 300 Sudeten Germans gave unprecedented provocation to Czech troops, shouting offensive slogans and spitting in their faces. The demonstrators included the burgo-master of the town, Herr Ilerbricht, who spat in the face of a Czech officer. Herr Nemec, a Henlein deputy, incited and lead the crowds in attempting to wrench the bayonets and rifles from I lie troops. In spite of a German statement that 100 were injured, only six or eight were slightly hurt and all were able to walk home.

PROTEBT BY GERMANY CAMPAIGN IN THE PRESS ALLEGED CZECH TERRORISM • nited p.ess Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrtga 1 BERLIN, May 22 The German Government is sharply protesting at the Cheb shootings, and the newspapers have been instructed to intensify the campaign against Czechoslovakia. The front pages of yesterday morning’s newspapers carried flaring banner lines describing the unbearable provocation of the defenceless Sudeten Germans, and police attacks with firearms and sabres, and generally sought to convey a picture of Czech terrorism. The newspapers printed full and sensational reports of the alleged incidents in Czechoslovakia. In every instance the Sudeten Germans were described as innocent victims. Field-Marshal Goering’s paper, the National-Zeitung, declares: “The German people cannot regard these incidents as accidental outbreaks of Czech Chauvinism, hut as a planned attack upon the rights of the very life of Sudeten Germans, for which the Czech Government must be held responsible. The evening papers describe Hofmann •and Boehm, who were shot, at Cheb, as martyrs, and use the incident as an opportunity for a fresh frenzied outburst.

GERMAN DECISION WILL TACKLE ANY PROBLEM HITLER IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS ;United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 23. 11.10 a.m.) MUNICH, May 22 Herr Hitler, when inaugurating subway works, did not refer to the European situation , unless in the passage stressing that “ whenever any problem of any kind arises we will tackle it and see it through.” Herr Hitler appeared to be in excellent spirits.