Evening star., 1938-09-18
Military Regime
Stays in Effect
Three Months.
The Czechoslovak Crisis


THE CZECHOsLovAK GOVERN
MENT declares state of emergency"
for national safety. German
charge d'affaires warns of equal
arrests of Czechs in Germany in
reprisal for arrests of Sudetens in
CZechoslovakia.
FRENCH PREMIER DALADIER and
Foreign Minister Bonnet fly to
London to consult with Premier
Chamberlain and cabinet ministers
on Hitler's demands.
KONRAD HENLEIN, FUGITIVE
Sudeten leader, announces forma-
tion of armed corps on both sides
Of German-Czech border for pos
sible use against Czech police and
soldiers.
PREMIER MUSSOLINI PREPARES
to deliver speech in Trieste today.
expected to stress stand that
Czechoslovakia should be dissected
By the Associated Press.
PRAGUE, Sept. 1.-THE Czecho-
slovak cabinet tonight decreed a
nationwide state of emergency, a form
OF martial law, driving home to every
citizen the grave Central European
situation.
4, Exercising extraordinary powers re-
served for times of great national
danger, the cabinet abridged consti-
tutional rights of Czechoslovak citizens
in the interest Of national safety.
Security OF person was abolished,
meaning that persons are subject to
arrest without warrants and can be
held without charge. New restraints
were placed on the press. Letters may
be opened by government representa-
tives. Homes may be searched and the
right Of free assembly was suspended.
In Effect Three Months.
The state of emergency. effective at
once. was decreed for a three-month
period.
Martial law already is in effect in
is Sudeten German districts where
grave disorders involving the pro-
Nazi Germanic minority broke out
after Adolf Hitler's Nurnberg speech
Monday night.
The new decree suspended consti-
tutional rights throughout the republic
giving the government another weapon
to back its firm stand for preserving
Czechoslovakia' internal peace in the
face of Sudeten demands for annexa-
ton by the Nazis.
Reprisals Promised.
Germany's Charge d'Affairs,. Andor
Hencke, told Premier Milan Hodza that
just as many Czech subjects would be
arrested in Germany as Sudeten Ger
mans were taken into custody in
Czechoslovakia, where their party has
been dissolved officially.
The diplomatic warning came while
formation of Sudeten German Free
Corps" spurred Czechoslovak deter
mination to resist dismemberment and
suppress possible disorders.
In addition Hencke was reported
without confirmation to have told
the Premier that If any executions
OF Sudeten Germans were carried out
under courts martial, the same number
Of C1echs would be executed in Ger
many.
Czechs Protest Arrests.
Almost at the same time the Czech
Legation in Berlin was lodging
protest against arrest of Czech sub
jects in numerous German cities and
demanding the release of 40 gen.
darmes said to have been kidnapped
near the Czech-German frontier.
Approximately 100000 Czechoslovak
soldiers and police were reported to
be under arms prepared for all even
Qualities, and advices from the frontier
said military construction work was
being pushed.
Rigid martial law was being main
tained in 16 Sudeten German districts.
Kidnapped Thursday.
The Czech Legation in Berlin said
the 40 Czech gendarmes were kid
naped Thursday night while en- route
to reinforce gendarmerie at Schwader-
bach.
Schwaderbach was the scene of
(Sse PRAGUE, Page A-5)