Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-23
GERMAN RULE BRINGS
DISORDER IN BOHEMIA
Martial Law Is Proclaimed and
Many Thrown Into
Prison
Washington, MAY 23.

Washington. May 25.
Martial law has been proclaimed in
several districts Of Bohemia as result
Of disorders arising from the progress
of the Czech Independence movement
and from Bohemian hostility to the re-
districting Of their country in the inter
ests of the German minorities. Accord
in to an official French dispatch. The
dispatch follows.
The law bulletin Of the Austrian en-
nire publishes tho ministerial decree. aC-
cording to which the district govern
ments so long demanded by thr Ger
mans are established in Bohemia. The
twelve district captains who are nomi-
mated will represent the Statthalter Of
Prague in each district and will have
the same powers
THE boundaries of the districts are
fixed as far AS possible. according 10
the national grouping, In the words Of
the decree the aim Is 70 take the fret
steps toward tho re-cstablishment of
order in Bohemia This decree fore
runs undoubtedly a policy Of repression,
the first act Of which tends 20 dismem-
ber Bohemia by granting 10 the German
elements the guarantees, or better, the
privileges they demand.
Advantages for Germans
Up to the present Bohemia comprised
thirteen districts. only two Of which had
a majority of German population, aCA
Cording to statistics from Vienna. In
four of the districts there are hardly
any Germans. The new plan aims at
creating in each of the twelve nov dis
triCts a German minority. and to grant
to this minority. however small it may
be. considerable advantages in the ad-
ministrative and electoral domains.
This method is meant TO bring about
as first result a considerable increase
In the number of German deputies IN
the Diet to the prejudice of the CzeChs,
who until now held the majority of the
seats It is clear that this device of the
Pan-Germans is bound to arouse the
most violent opposition on the part Of
the CzechS.
"A dispatch printed in all the Agram
papers calls attention to the fact that
martial law has been proclaimed in sew
eral districts of Bohemia because in
certain regions serious riots have oc
Cured. More than $50 persons have
been put in prison The estate Of Prince
Furstemberg was ransacked Riots oc-
CURED a MarsCh, Ostrau, Pilsen and
NaChod.
The Czech press expresses itself very
violently. The Vetcher writes
The Government is trying in vain
to present It's REFORM unuer nTlGnt
Colors. but II is evident at first sight.
in fact, that nothing but the dismem-
bering of Bohemia is under way. The
ministerial decree is preparing the
parceinG out of our Fatherland and
the foundation Of a German province
made Of our own flesh.
CzeChs to Fight on
THE Narodni Listi which was sup
pressed by the censorship as guilty of
criminal dealings has written.
It is in vain that threats are hurled
at us to divert us from the line of
conduct which we have decided to fol-
low according to our proclamation. 1t
is in vain that the sessions of Par
7 Lament are adjourned. Our indigna-
ton will not be less In June the
/ Austrian chamber is to resume its
sittings on June l9) and our OPP
ponents will have the opportunity OF
I realizing it. The charter which ac-
cording TO Won Seydler IS to be
granted TO us will not change our
resolution. We viii fight on without
promise, for the defense of the Czech
State.
Emperor Charles is away from
Vienna and on his return he will fud
political conditions which the food eit-
uation will make even more distressing.
Once more the frightfulness of German
methods, so dear to the Germans, will
bear It's 1TulI Dy dIOuSliB "
the people opposed
| An official Austrian note cabled TO
Washington from Berne throws light on
the motives which impelled the Austrian
Government to declare martial law in
Bohemia The note says:
Certain events which were danger
TO the safety of the State and pre-
sented even a character Of high
treason took place during the first
days of the fiftieth anniversary cele-
! bratlon Of the founding of the Ma
tional Bohemian Theatre and led the
authorities to take repressive meas
ures.
Newspaper Is Suppressed
The Jugo Slav guests who had come
TO Prague TO participate in the celebra-
ton were obliged to leave the city, and
the newspaper Narodni Listi was sus'
pended because the Austrian authorities
declared:
The manner in which this paper IL
worded tends to arouse sympathy In
favor Of the Entente States"
Accounts OF the great gathering al
Prague say the city was adorned with
the Czech colors ard the slav tricolol
nag.