1938-09-24 — Page 22

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,

Lad de

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1988.

PRAGUE ORDERS FULL MOBILISATION: TWO MILLION MEN NOW UNDER ARMS FRANCE DECLARES IN THE MIDST OF WAR NEGOTIATIONS

1

EMERGENCY,ARMY MANS FRONTIER

Co-German Border Bridges Dynamited As Troops Move

WAR BECAME AN IMMINENT POSSIBILITY IN

EUROPE TO-DAY WHEN CZECHO - SLOVAKIA 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- Large forces of French pletely manned the Maginot Line. 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.

of Czecho-

The President

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

Mobilisation Ordered

Prague, Sept. 21.

A proclamation by Dr. Edouard

Benes, President of Czecho-

500,000 German Troops

On Border

Prague, Sept. 23.

11 estimated that half a million German troops are concentrated only Just inside Germany across the Czech border-United Press.

2,000,000 Men

Prague, Sept. 23. The mobilisation of the entire six hours, even though it

Slovakia, ordering the general Czech Army should take not more mobilisation of the entire Czech than

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.

Japanese Drive Extends Along

Yangtse River

Nanking, Sept. 23.

2

AT GODESBERG END IN FAILURE

Impossible Demands by Hitler: Chamberlain Returns to L❜don

"I

MPOSSIBLE” DEMANDS BY HERR HITLER ARE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAK- DOWN OF ANGLO- GERMAN NEGOTIATIONS AT GODESBERG.

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

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

MR. CHAMBERLAIN IS REPORTED TO HAVE ASKED AN ASSURANCE FROM HERR HITLER THAT CZECHO. 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.

taken away by a Ils corpse was

officers and of Japanese Dutch soldiers in five motor cars.-Central News.

Chinese Counter-Attack

The

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

Talks Break Down

The

and war ensures the world will know where the responsibility Hea

Godesberg, Sept. 24, The news of activity on the Czech the border und in France has added ten- conversations, between Prime Minister of England and the slon and it is feared that the gravest German Chancellor have been dis- point of the crisis is being reached. continued and Mr. Neville Chamber-United Press.

Definite Rupture

Hankow, Sept. 24.

for the struggle bitter possession of Tienchlachen, strategic in will returu to England to-day

London, Sept. 23. town un the north bank of the without having seen Herr Adolf

In official quarters it is under- Yangtze River above Wusuch, con-itler, except to say goodbye.

Mr. Nevile Henderson, the British.

and Srstood that the Godesberg conference tinues with both sides using their

Ambassador to Germany. utmost efforts.

Horace Wilson, a member of Mr. may be considered ruptured and to- visited the nigh's visit to Herr Hitler was only Close-quarter fighting is taking Chamberlain's party.

The Cabinet will be summoned on place at Wukweishan (Turtle Hill), Fuehrer at the Dreesen Hotel last a formal farewell.

Parliament Shatzenao, Yachangmino and Halong night at 6.10 p.m. and consulted Herr

The

shan, points around the town.

Army has been broadcast from includes all officers, non-commission- JAPANESE forces operating on the north Yangtse front fram such are also assistint in the

ed effects, enlisted men and reser-

the Prague Wireless Station-vists.

Reuter.

Railways Torn Up

Berlin, Sept. 23.

The German News Agency reports) from Dressen that the entire rail-! way traffe on ten lines running into Czecho-Slovakia from Germany has been suspended.

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

German Troops Move

Munich, Sept. 23. Columns 18 troops are pouring through the city in the direction of Salzburg.

Trainloads of troops and equipment left railway station throughout the day amid a generat atmosphere of anxlely and tension.-Reuter.

Germany Masses 22 Divisions

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

The army is normally estimated at H00,000 men, with about 1,200,000 reserven-United Press.

French Frontier

Precautiona

Paris, Sept. 23. After learning of the hitch at Godesberg. Paris officials immediately put the Western frontier defences at musximum strength-United Press.

London Consternation

London, Sept. 23. Cunglernation prevalts in British political circles at the latest develop- ments In Czecho-Slovakta.

Mr.

and

on

the

heaviest pressure is being exerted by von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign the Japanese column driving south-Minister, but the nature of the

Chamberlain is not revealed: ward from Kwangtsi, whilst units message which they carried from Mr.

A little after their return the de-ably fly to parture of Mr. Chamberlain was To counteract the Japanese often-announced.

launching Chinese ure sive the

Wusuch und unter-assaults Kwangtsi and are also making flank ing attacks on the Japanese advancing un Tienchiachen.

are steadily extending their drive westward from thrust. Kwangtsi, a communique issued at the Headquarters of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in Central China declares.

front

and

taking

In the fighting on the Kwang-the Kwangisi tsi front near Hwangmei, the advantage of their numerical strength,

jare making severe counter-attacks. announcement points out, the Japanese forces defeated more 10 divisions of Chinese than forces and advancing westward reduced the Chinese positions at the southwestern edge of the Tapich Range.

their

The Chinese concentrated forces from the second defence lines at Kichun, Tsaoka, um Kishul on

гол

To prevent Japanese warships from Wusuch from steaming upriver

the Yangtze Chinere gunners On Friday, easterly wind swept the

banks are exercising strict vigilance battle felds and banks of cloud overshadowed the sky. The time over Japanese movements in the

river. A Japanese gunboat fresh developments, maturing for

sunk and three others damaged by gunfire was roaring along the entire Chinese effective shelling at a point

just above Wusuch on Thursday. front, the communique states.

Japanese

forces displayed intense activity on the Yangise fronts. violently attacking the enemy is low Bights:

appeal Chamberkin's

On the western Juichang front, the Thursday was directed, principally to

Army aircraft bombed and destroyed the Czech military circle, and

the baving been told that in the event the bridge at Tienkincho as well as resignation of Dr. Hodzn

of hostilities they will be immediate the Chinese troops retreating from formation of a military Cabinet comes as a complete surprise.-Trans-Ocean, ly evacuated. The German side of the first lines, the communique con-

the frontier around Kehl Bridge was clucles.--Domei, plunged into darkness at nightfall,

French Troops Moving?

Berlin, Sept. 23. It is reported that French troops are being concentrated in Alsace- Trans-Ocran.

Sappers Ready

Was

Mr. Chamberlain planned to see Herr Hitler to say good-bye, it was announced, and he left the Hotel at 10 p.m. to visit the Fuehrer-Reuter. Exchange of Letters

Franco-British consultations will Saturday and probably

also be held on Saturday, it is under- will meet on Monday.

stood here. M. Daladier will prob-

er Landon. Britain has informed France that Mr. Chamberlalu is returning on that it CODA- Saturday, intimating alders the meeting broken off and Herr Ilitier as having definitely re- Jocted Mr. Chamberlain's demands, Diplomats in close touch with the Foreign Office state that "there is no but doubt about a definite rupture,

re- a Foreign Office Spokesman Godesberg, Sept. 23. Mr. Chamberlain earlier in the fused to comment on the position. afternoon sent a letter to the Fuehrer United Press. shortly before Sir Horace Wilson and and received his reply at 3.35 p.m., Sir Nevile Henderson set out to visit Hotel-Reuter. Herr von Ribbentrop at the Dreesen

Ascribed to Letter

London, Sept. 23.

"

Withdraw Demands, Hitler Told

Paris, Sept. 23.

The letter which Mr. Chamberlain sent to Herr Hitler early in the after- noon, and to which he received

The Japanese in the Kwangtsi at a high-level ground to the west

The reason for the breakdown in reply shortly before he announced sector are cornered by the Chinese of the city. Heavy casualties have

lain and Herr Ifitler is uscribed to to have insisted on Herr Hitler been inflicted on them in a series negotiations between Mr. Chamber-his departure for England, is believed

the past

by the British withdrawing certain of his demands. of counter-assaults during

few days. More than 10 machine- letter addressed

us, 30 sub-machine-guns, 200 rifles Premier to Herr Hitler. The exact-United Press. and several field pleces have been details of the letter have not, how- It is stated that the resumption of captured by the Chinese-Centralever, been revealed.

the conversations depends on Herr News.

Hitler-Trans-Ocean.

Hitler's Impossible

Demands

Berlin Anxiety.

Berlin, Sept. 23. As a result of the breakdown in the conversations between Herr Hitler except for lights leading up to the Struggle For Chinlungshan

Heavy Casualties

and Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the fortilleation works-United Press.

Nanchang, Sept. 24.

greatest anxiety now prevails here. Tokyo, Sept. 23.

€,000 Chiulongshan, a hill at the foot of

Anxiety and pessimism is greater Chinese troops left about forms the the Lushup Mountain,

to-day than at any time since the Paris, Sept. 23. crisis began. Berlin, Sept. 24. point of bitter contention between dead on the Yangtse front in the

The German public is thus far It is understood here that in ja The German News Agency reports Chinese and Japanese troops in the period from August 20 to September 17, according to a communique is French Preparations

that the Mayor of Aussi has been Singtze-Tehan sector.

The Japanese are making deter-ed by the headquarters of the letter to Herr Hitler, Mr. Chamber-ignorant of what has occurred at Force inain insisted that Herr Hitler with Godesberg, the only information re- Paris, Sept. 24.

arrested.

draw his demands for the withdrawal leased for publication being a non- issued on communique garrisons have All Rhine

Czech troops have again begun mined efforts to capture the hill, Japanese Expeditionary placed in a state of "Alert Prepared-moving towards the border, and which occupted a commanding post-Central China,

to de- Thursday night-Trans-Ocean. The communique says that in the of 20 Czech army divisions to eastern commital

subsequent have arrived at a dam near Schrec- tion on the Slagtze-Tehun highway.

Czecho-Slovakin into Bringing their heavy artillery There

Is un atmosphere of deepest ness,"

Soldiers

uniforms and henstein with suppiles of explosives. in war anxiety and telephone calls from the

to carrying full equipment, including it is alleged they shot and wounded action, they have hurled tons of ex-ple Mountain Range, including mobilisation and that the Czechs re- delegation's Brilian

rooms

on the Chinese positions and Kwangchow and Shangcheng, 12,000 munce the new Government:

beett

vanced pasts of the Maginot Line on

Press.

area at

northern base

of the

London, Prague and Parts keep the tas maslu, have occupled the nd-three Sudetens Zeldler, United up the hill intermittently Chinese troops were killed in action mediately to put the Maginot Line at Soda Pop Flows In Street

lines out of Godesberg jammed. United Preas. --

Million Men Move

Prague, Sept. 24.

the Rhineland.

and

General Invasion

the

On hearing this, France moved im-

Sapulpa, Okla.

a mess,"

been inflicted on ties have

of the broken glass and splattered liquids,

since Sept. 20. At least 1,000 shells were fired everyday, and sometimes between August 28 and September full strength.-United Press. Horses and trucks have been re-

when the wind was favourable, pois -19. Prague, Sept. 23.

Sapulpa's Ook street ran red--with Asked Written Fledge transport men quisitioned to

of Chinese soldiers

soda pop. About half a truck load The number It is learned from official Czech son gas was allegedly used by

Godesberg, Sept. 23. of 0,095 battles Blithered to the materials through Alsace and Lor-

quarters that since I p.m. there Japanese, too.

taken prisoner on the Tapich front raine, and at dawn all frontier posts

is believed that Mr.. Chamber- strength,

has been a general invasion of the Entrenched on and around the hill, in the same period is given as 350, All day yesterday special trains were manned at double

continual stream of reservists Sudeten territory from Germany the Chinese have been able to strike while the booty captured by Japan-it's main trouble was the necessity pavement when the side of a truck filled with soldiers were leaving with

by armed Sudetena who are asstat- back at the Japanese with grent ese forces included 13 trench-mortars for insisting that the Germans do not have way, "It was quite Prague's railway stations for the continuing to arrive on the border.

were Correspondents on the border re- ed by German Blorm Troops and effect. No fewer than 1,000 casual- field-gun, 15 heavy machine-guns.į march on Czecho Slovakia during the James Sawyer, the truck driver, sald

the 101 light machine-guns and large negotiations. transports frontiers. The

Black Guards, called ported that residents are most alarm-

Omelally it is announced that Mr. mainly filed with reservist

The incursions are being resisted Japanese. up on Thursday, and they were set-ed by the formidable' troop move-

and, and ments-United Press.

Recording to these official The strategle hill is reported to be quantities of ammunition,

The communique claims that the Chamberlain will return to London

on Saturday. Hungarian ting out for the

reports, efforts are being made to still in Chinese handa.

Linochiashon, another, important bodies left by Chinese troops on the

It is believed here that Polish frontier as well at the Sudeten

Civilians to Evacuate evict the Sudetons, who are said to

Jalter to Herr Hitler during the Exiles Reach Australia have already captured some towns hi on the Singtze-Tehan highway Kwangtal and Julehang fronts up to areas along the German frontier.

Canberra. All along the frontier the fortinco-

Strasburg, Sept. 23.

has been retaken by the Chinese, date totalled 47,095, Chinese soldiers morning Mr. Chamberlain demand- ed a written pledge from Germany

The first contingent of German- ns whilst Sharichlushan and Taingfeng-captured alive in the same sectors French soldiers on the thine fron-and now control them.

The altuation is described flons are already

that she would not attack Czeclio-

Jewish professional and business tier this evening are in full field serious around the frontier towns of shan two others in the vicinity now amount to 1,212.

Mr.men who have been obliged to quit under arms already, according 10 equipment and completely ready for Asch in West Rumberg, and Warns- in Japanese occupation are being

The arms and ammunition captur- Slovakia pending negotiations. English sources say that fighing in positions to a depth of dorf in the north, where the Sudeten attacked by the Chinese with great

ed by Japanese competent observer.

forces included 10 Chamberlain's letter was motivated Germany and Austria has arrived ferocity. Railway traffic for civil needs is three kilometres in front the advance is the strongest. -

28 trench-mortars, 4 Brid

During an engagement at Hoshan-feld-guns, various almost discontinued

Maginot Line,

The Sudetens are also alleged to lines have announced that no further

The civilians are calm but serious, he spreading the report that the nno on the Singize-Tehao highway rapid-firing guns, 11 mountain guns, by a desire to "place on record" here; They number 30 and include a high Japanese officer 64 heavy machine-guns and 141 London's views which is interpreted doctors, lawyers, university lecturers,

to mean that if Germany morches dentists and commercial men. goods can be accepted for transport

bear the and are standing about In amali German army is following them in yesterday

whose name is unknown was killed. light machine-guns, Domel, La certain destinations

the groups discussing

situation, their advance-Reuter, border-Trans-Ocean,

troop massed by strong

men

being

of

In his