The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-03-18
WILL ACT IF
POLES INVADE
LITHUANIA
German Motive in Eastern
Territorial Dispute
Is Not Clear
WAR FEVER AT PEAK
IN POLISH NATION
BULLETIN

BULLETIN
WARSAW, POLAND, Mar. Is.
(UP)-The war fever in Poland
reached its peak today at \ huge
mass meeting in the main square
of Wilma, where the crowds shout.
ed for the invasion Of Lithuania.
BERLIN, Mar. lS.-Nazi { erm-
any will send armed forces into
Memel if Poland invades Lithuania
under an ultimatum from War
saw for settlement of a terri
torial dispute between the two
countries, it was said by party
spokesman here today.
German leaders consider Memel
an "unredeemed" territory, lost in
the World War. The Nazi party
spokesmans' statement at once
aroused conjecture as to whether
the possible military move on the
part of Germany would be for the
purpose of helping Poland or to
drive q wedge, which Germany
could make the basis for negotia.
tions. with Poland over the Polish
corridor.
The statement came shortly be-
fore the ultimatum sent to Lithu-
ania, demanding conversations for
the decentralization" Of relations
between the two countries was to
expire at p. m. (EST) Saturday,
and simultaneously with final
preparations for Richfuehrer's ad-
dress to the reichstag on foreign
affairs. Hitler, however, was not
expected to touch on the Polish
Lithuanian controversy.
WARSAW, Poland, Mar. 49,
(UP)-Polish officials, prepared
to back with military force their
ultimatum to Lithuania, today ex-
pressed confidence that Lithuania
would meet Polish demands and
the incident be settled without
war.
That there is no doubt that Po-
land meant business was empha-
sized by the arrival at Wilma, near
the Lithuanian frontier, Of Mar
shall Edward Rydz-Smigley. Plans
Of the leader and inspector gen
eral of the army and the attitude
of the country were reflected III
such incidents as the appearance
in newspapers of headlines read
ing Frontiers Are Artificially
Closed. They'll Be Opened by
Armed Force"
The ultimatum arose over a
border incident in which Polish
guard was killed. Satisfaction and
the reopening of the question Of
whether the city Of Wilma really
is the Lithuanian capital or be-
longs to Poland are included in
the demands.
WARSAW, POLAND, Mar. IL.
CUP)-Diplomatic developments
that may mean war or peace be-
tween Poland and Lithuania
reached q climax today with all
Europe vitality interested in the
outcome.
At 1870 q. m. the government
announced that an ultimatum had
been served on Lithuania.
An official announcement said
that "the Polish note was handed
to the Lithuanian government in
Kovno at 8 p. m. Thursday con-
tanning the well-known Polish de-
mands. AT q time specified there
in the Polish government expect
an answer"
The communique did not men,
ton the exact time limit set for
an answer. 1t was the first time
that a Polish ultimatum had been
admitted officially by the govern
ment.
LITHUANIA CLAIMS
POLISH HELD AREA
Polands demands include re-
storation of diplomatic relations
and traffic between The two coun-
tries and recognition of the status
of wilma, situated on the Polish
border and long subject Of con-
troversy. Poland wants alteration
of the Lithuanian constitution
which established Wilma as Lithu-
ania's capital. Lithuania claims
the wilma area which Poland oc-
cupied and whose present frontier
the great powers have recognized.
Poland wants the city to be the
Lithuanian capital.
There were various reports Of
the time limit set by Poland for
an answer, but the government
did not reveal it to anyone. Some
foreign reports that Lithuania was
given SO hours in which to answer
were termed false.
A dispute between the two
countries over q frontier clash
Continued on page three)