Evening star., 1938-03-30
FIGHT
FACING CzECHS
Campaign in Parliament
Is Pressed by Four
Minority Groups.
nl .he Associated Press

b the Associated Press.
BERLIN, March 30.-Thp cry for
autonomy from four minority groups
echoed through Czechoslovakia with
increasing vigor today and met con-
tinuing assurances of protection for
Germans beyond the borders from
Nazi bigwigs.
Germans, Slovaks, Hungarians and
Poles put their cards plainly on the
government table during yesterdays
tumultuous Parliament session.
At the same time greater Germany
moved toward the April 10 plebiscite
on annexation of Czechoslovakia' s
former independent neighbor, Austria.
German newspapers made plain
that only drastic reorganization could
appease the various nationalities.
Nazis Issue Warning.
Influential Nazis warned that
Czechoslovakia must make funda-
mental change in her political struc-
ture If she would save her inde-
pendence.
Premier Milan Hodza of Czecho-
slovakia had indicated greater politi-
cal and cultural privileges would be
granted the minorities, but within the
country's constitution.
parliamentary circles in Praha
said today a policy Of watchful watt
ing would be observed the next few
DAYS both by government and minor
ity circles.
Official circles failed to offer clue
as to what Fuehrer Hitler might have
in mind to safeguard the rights of the
3500,0O0 Sudeten Germans following
the declaration of the Slovak Deputy,
Tiso, in the Czech Parliament yester-
day:
ut is not the army alone that de-
fends the state"
But drastic comment can be heard
in Nazi circles in Berlin that "those
German-blooded soldiers in the Czech
army can also turn their rifles the
other way"
Promises Hardly Satisfactory.
Diplomatische Politische Korre-
spondenz. German foreign Office
mouthpiece, cody described as "hardly
satisfactory" the promises Of Premier
Hodza regarding minorities.
Meanwhile Vienna prepared for its
biggest day since Fuehrer Hitler's tri-
umthant entry March IA.
Thirty thousand Austrian Legion
porioc ubo bovo not eoap fbo;r bo,,oo a
land for years will return Saturday
and march into the former imperial
capital.
The Legionnaires-all members of
the Austrian Storm Troops-fled dur
ing the regimes of Chancellors Engle-
bert Dollfus and Kurt Schuschnigg.
They were housed in various camps
in Germany and given military drill
Plebiscite campaigning was carried
on yesterday by Hitler, Field Marshal
Goering and Propaganda Minister
Goebbles
At Hamburg Hitler told an audience
of 10000 that he had pleaded with
Schuschnigg for IL hours at the
Berchtesgaden conference February IL
to choose a course of gradual Nazifica-
ton of Austria.
When Schuschnigg repudiated the
agreement, he declared, he determined
to eliminate" the Austrian chancellor.
Goering visited Syrian iron mines
in Austria to arrange increased pro-
duction.
Goebbels told an audience of 100 900
at Vienna there was no doubt of a
favorable vote for anschluss (union).
Well-informed quarters said progress
was being made toward an agreement
of the Nazi regime with the Vatican
Austrian Catholic bishops already
have announced their support of Hitler
in the plebiscite.
Meanwhile there came official revela-
ton of increased German military
might as the result of union with
Austria.
1t was announced that incorporation
Of the Austrian Army with Germany's,
effective April /, would expand the
armed forces to at least 18 army corps.
Until recently the official strength was
13 corps.
CZECH PLAY ATTACKED.