1938-09-24 — Page 1

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Hongkong Telegraph.

No. 15617

POUNDED B 六拜體 號四廿月九英港香

SATURDAY,

SEPTEMBER

1938. 24,

SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS

0.00 PER ANNUM

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WHITEAWAY'S

ORDERED

European War Imminent as Troops Mass on Border

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA IN THE MIDST OF WAR

ORDERS 2,000,000 TROOPS TO ARMS

France Concentrates Forces on Western Front: Reich Moves

WA

VAR BECAME AN IMMINENT POSSIBILITY IN EUROPE TO-DAY WHEN CZECHOSLOVAKIA SUDDENLY ORDERED THE MOBILISATION OF ALL HER FORCES, NUMBERING 800,000 REGULARS AND 1,200,000 RESERVES.

CZECH TROOPS ARE ALREADY MOVING UP TO THE GERMAN, POLISH AND HUNGARIAN FRONTIER REGIONS. ON THE GERMAN FRONTIER THEY ARE GERMANS. CON- NOW FACING HALF-A-MILLION SIDERABLE MOVEMENTS OF GERMan trooPS, MOV- ING TOWARDS CZECHO-SLOVAKIA, ARE REPORTED. France has declared a State of Emergency and has com- pletely manned the Maginot Line. Large forces of French troops are being rushed to Alsace.

A GENERAL INVASION OF CZECHO-SLOVAKIA IS BELIEVED IMMINENT.

Serious frontier fighting is already in progress be- tween Czech troops and Sudeten irregulars. The latter have been reinforced by German Storm Troopers and Black Guards. Czecho-Slovakia has blown up several border bridges in order to retard any German advance.

Mobilisation Decree

Prague, Sept. 23. The President Czecho-

of Slovakia, Dr. Edouard Benes, has issued an order for mobilisa- tion.--United Press.

Mobilisation Ordered

Prague, Sept. 21. A proclamation by Dr. Edloward of Czecho- Benes. President Slovakia, ordering the general mobilisation of the entire Czech Army has been broadcast from the Prague Wireless Station.-- Reuter.

Railways Torn Up

Berlin, Sept. 23.

Prague's rallway stations for the frontiers. The transports were called mainly led with reservists

on Thursday, and they were set. Eng out for the Hungarian Polish frontier as well at the Sudeten areas along the German frontier.

and

All along the frontier the fortifica- flows are already occupied by strong me being troop masses, 900,000 under arins already, according to competent observers.

Railway

for civil needs is fromfic

and Various almost discontinued lines have announced that no further Koods can be accepted for transport 10 certain destinations near th:w border-Trans-Ocean,

500,000 German Troops On Border

Prague, Sept. 23

The German News Agency reportsį It is estimated that half a million i from Dreesen that the entire rail- German troops are concentrated only way traffic on ten lines running into just inside Germany across the Czech Czecho-Slovakki from Germany has border.-United Press. been suspended.

In most cases the reason is alleged to be that the track and some bridges have been dynamited by the Czechs. -Reuter.

German Troops Move

Munich, Sept. 23. Columns of troops are pouring through the city in the direction of Sa'zburg.

Trainloads of troops and equipment left railway station throughout the day amid a general atmosphere of anxiety and tension-Renter.

Germany Masses

22 Divisions

Godesberg, Sept. 23. News has reached the members of that the British delegation here Germany has massed twenty-two divisions, and that in the event of war she has half-n-million men on war footing in the Immediate vicinity of the Czech frontier.

u

2,000,000 Men

WE ARE AT PEACE

WHILE EUROPE is on the verge of war. Army children

in Hongkong are in the peaceful atmosphere of School sports. Prizes being distributed at the Annual Swimming Sports of the Garrison kiddies yesterday by Mrs. Bartholomew, wife of the General Officer Commanding the British Troops.

FRANCO-SOVIET

NEGOTIATIONS AT GODESBERG END IN FAILURE

Impossible Demands by Hitler: Chamberlain Returns to L'don

*།

MPOSSIBLE" DEMANDS BY HERR HITLER ARE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAK- OF ANGLO - GERMAN NEGOTIATIONS AT

DOWN GODESBERG.

MR. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN IS RETURNING TO LONDON TO-DAY WITHOUT HAVING SEEN HERR HITLER, EXCEPT TO SAY GOOD-BYE,

It is believed that the rupture was caused by a preli minary exchange of letters between Mr. Chamberlain and Hitler.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN IS REPORTED TO HAVE ASKED HITLER THAT CZECHO- AN ASSURANCE FROM HERR SLOVAKIA WOULD NOT BE INVADED DURING THE PERIOD OF NEGOTIATION.

Circles closely connected with the British Mission described the breakdown as "a complete rupture."

British and American subjects have been ordered to evacuate Czecho-Slovakia. A British aeroplane has already evacuated wives and families of Legation officials.

AID

NOW FORTHCOMING

M.

Soviet Ends Non-Aggression Agreement with Warsaw

DALADIER, the Prime Minister of France, has made a clear and

• unequivocal statement regarding France's attitude in the event of a German invasion of Czecho-Slovakia,

Under such circumstances, declares M. Daladior, France will go to the assistance of the Czechs.

The latest development sare described in London and Paris as the gravest since the beginning of the crisis..

Talks Break Down

Godesberg, Sept. 24.

between the The conversations Prime Minister of England and the German Chancellor have been dis- continued and Mr. Neville Chamber- lain will return to England to-day Adolf without having seen Herr

Hitler, except

to

say goodbye. Mr. Nevile Ilenderson, the British Ambassador to Germany, and Horace Wilson, a a member of Chamberlain's party, Fuehrer at the Dreesen Hotel last

night at

visited

Sir

Mr.

the

at 8.10 p.m. and consulted Herr von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister, but the nature of the message which they carried from Mr. Chamberlain is not revealed.

Mr. Chamberlain Was

STOP PRESS

Still Saying Good-Bye

Godesberg, Sept. 24. Though he was believed to have

A little after their return the de-merely called on Herr Hitler to say good-bye, Mr. Neville Chamberlain till had not returned from the annameed. need. Mr. Chamberlain planned to ace Dressen llotet by 12.25 a.m. to-day.

Ile left his hotel to drive to the Herr Hitler to say good-bye, it was

Fuchrer's apartment at 10.10 announced, and he left the Intel at

last night.Reuter 10 p.m. to visit the Fuehrer-Reuter.

Exchange of Letters.

This statement renders it almost certain that Soviet Russia would afford similar aid. M. Litvinoff announced in Geneva that Soviet aid for Czecho-Slovakia and received his reply at 3.35 p.m... would be forthcoming if France took similar steps.

France May Act

Paris, Sept. 23.

Sirovy Takes Over

Prague, Sept. 23.

Prague, Sept. 23. The mobilisation of the entire Czech Army Bhould take not more than six hours, even though it

Replying to questions asked by a General Sirovy presented his includes all officers, non-commission-7

Cabinet to the President shortly ed officers, enlisted men and reser-delegation of the Radical. Socialist group which he received this evening, vists.

The army is normally estimated at the Premier. M. Daladler, said that in after Dr. Hodza had tendered his about 1,200,000 case the negotiations were adjourned resignation, and all then took the

and France | Oath of Allegiance. or broken off, Britain 300,000 men, with reserves United Press.

would certainly resort to appropriate│*

French Frontier Precautions

Paris, Sept. 23. After learning of the hlich at Godesberg, Paris officials immediately out the Western frontier defences at maximum strength-United Press.

measure

Godesberg, Sept. 23. Mr. Chamberlain earlier in the afternoon sent a letter to the Fuchrer shortly before Sir Horace Wilson and Sir Nevile Henderson set out to visit Herr von Ribbentrop at the Dreesen Polish-Hotel-Reuter.

demarche, since no' special measures

Laken

the have been Soviet border-Reuter.

ол

Will Denounce Pact

Moscow, Sept. 23, The Soviet at 4 nm, to-day sent

letter

Ascribed to Letter

London, Sept. 23. The reason for the breakdown in negotiations between Mr. Chamber- British a Note to Poland Informing her that in and Herr Hitler is ascribed to n

addressed by the The Cabinet is scheduled to meet Russin would denounce the non-Premier to Herr Hitler. The exact pact between the details of the letter have not, how- new aggression 4 up In the case of Czecho-Slovakia this afternoon to draw

nations in the event of Czecho-ever, been revealed.

It is stated that the resumption of Herr being the victim of aggression, sald Government platform.

Slovakia being invaded.-United A little earlier. Dr. Benes bas

the conversations depends on M. Daladier, France would m-

Hitler-Trans-Ocean, mediately take the necessary measure to assist her-Router.

Soviet Aid Offered

Geneva, Sept. 23. M. Litvinoff, Soviet Foreign Com- missar, stated to-day that after

issued a Proclamation to the Army exhorting It to remember that the issued a Proclamallon to the Army for protection and declaring that the Army was behind the Government's declitons..

London Consternation

"The Army must remain a strong London, Sept. 23. accepting the "German-Anglo-and ready force and in every silua- Consternation prevails in British French" ultimatum, the Czech Gov- tion and at all costs must be ready political circies at the latest develop-ernment asked the Soviet whether it to conscientiously fulfil its duty to ments in Czecho-Slovakin.

would consider itself bound by the the State and the Nation," said the There is an atmosphere of deepest

Mr. Chamberlain's appeal on Czech-Soviet pact in the event of Proclamation, United Press. anxiety and telephone calls from thie Thursday was directed principally to Germany presenting new demands;

Soviet Demarche delegation's rooms to the Czech milltary circle, and the If the Anglo-German negotiations London, Prague and Paris keep the realgnation of Dr. Hodra and the were unsuccessful, and it Czecho- defend her

Warsaw, Sept. 23. lines out of Godesberg jammed formation of a military Cabinet comes Slovakia decided to

The Polish Charge d'Afaires ont as a complete surprise.-Trans-Ocean, frontiers by arms.

The Soviet reply was that in the Moscow. replying to the Soviet sald that the Pollsh French Troops Moving? event of France granting assistance dornarche,

to the Czechs under the conditions Government was

British

United Press.

Million Men Move

Prague, Sept. 24. "All day yesterday special trains filed with : soldiers were leaving

Berlin, Sept. 23. It is reported thaf French troops

(Continued on Page 4.).

well Acquainted

of the Franco-Czech Fact, Borlet with the working of the agreement Kumis would slso enter's force into which it had concluded. He express-

ed ́hia-Government's surprise at the | the Exrépéan armis==Reuter,

Press,

French General Resigns, Hitler's Impossible

Offers Aid to Prague

Prague, Sept. 23.

Demands

Paris, Sept. 23,

p.m.

INVADING ASCH DISTRICT

Berlin, Sept. 24. It is reported here that the Free 011 Corps crossed the border late Friday night and the Czechs resisted their entry, killing eight,

here that that It is understood move means an attempt is being made at the forcible union of the Asch dix- trict to Germany-United Pres.

UNOFFICIAL TALKS

CONCLUDED · "Friendly Parlays"

Godesbery, Sept. 24. At 1.25 a.m. this morning the talks between Chancellor Adolf Hitler and Mr. Neville Chamberlain were con cluded, according to the German News Agency which states that at that hour "the friendly converzalions ended."

ritory."

General Faucher, Chief of the

It is understood here that in his This agency also states that Herr French Milliary Mission to Czecho-letter to Herr Hitler, Mr. Chamberler handed Mr. Chamberlain Ger Slovakia, has sent in his resignationtain insisted that Herr Hitler with many's "final attitude regarding the to the French Government and draw his demands for the withdrawalnya naked to be relieved of his dalies of 20 Czech army divisions to cast in altuation in the Sudeten German ter- At the same time, it is announced. Czecho-Slovakia subsequent to de Mr. Chamberlain underlook the General put himself at the mobilisation and that the Czechs re- disposal of the Czech defence nounce the new Government. forces-Reuter,

On hearing this, France moved im- niediately to put the Maginot Line at full strength-United Press.

Asked Written Pledge

Seeks Dismemberment

The

of Czecho-Slovakia

press

Warsaw, Sept. 23, Polish Government (Continued on Pape 4.)

Godesberg, Sept. 23.

It is believed that Mr. Chamber-

(Continued on Page 5.)

to memorandum to

Government. ----

transmit the Czechoslovaklan United PreSR.

(Further Stop Preus News on Page 16.)