Evening star., 1938-05-08

SlBuaCOIleS.
The Germans are in an advantageous
position. They say that in accordance
with President Wilson's own theory Of SELF
determination Of nationalities the Ger.
mans who live under Czechoslovak rule
will show their desire to join the mother
country. Should France, in compliance
with the treaty with Czechoslovakia, en-
deavor to rush to that countrys assistance
the French air force and the French Army
would necessarily be compelled to invade
German territory. Under those circum-
stances the British will not be bound to
offer their support-and the treaty signed
In London on April 27 will be dead letter.
Army Overmatched.
The Czechoslovak Army and air force
are undoubtedly among the finest main
tained by the smaller European nations.
Together they have an effective force of
$4,000 men in peace time and some
1,500,O 900 men booked for general mobili-
zatlon. These men are protected by a
series of powerful Notifications toward
Germany but practically nothing on what
used to be the Austrian frontier. The
air force of the republic is composed Of
800 to 1000 bombing and pursuit planes,
which would have to defend, single handed,
frontier of fully 1900 miles against an
army which has over 100000 in peace
time and an air force which conservative
estimates place at $500 machines. While
the reservists Of the Czechoslovak Army
Sol ~
Magyars and Poles, whose loyalty cannot
be assured in the event of conflict With
Germany, the troops of the Reich are
100 per cent loyal and fanatically waiting
to be led to victory. A system Of military
roads 40 feet wide can bring reinforce
ments to the Czechoslovak border in
double-quick time.
On the other hand the Poles, who were
frustrated OF an easy military victory q
few weeks ago during the Lithuanian in.
cident. are equally avid to OCCUPY the
Teschen region. In fact, it Is known in
diplomatic circles that there Is an under.
standing between Warsaw and Berlin
providing free hand" for the Poles in
their zone of Czechoslovakia should Benes
force the issue by armed resistance.
Because of these considerations It is
believed in Washington that Benes will
not commit political suicide by precipitat-
ing an armed conflict in the course of
this or the next month.
Der Fuehrer has concentrated along the
Czech border no less than 100000 men
belonging to the s. S. and the Hitler
Youth. They are armed with speeches.
torches and swastikas. When signaled
they are expected to penetrate the Bo-
hemian plateau, where they will be re.
celved with open arms by the Sudeten
Germans under the leadership Of Konrad
Henlein. They will Supervise peaceful
plebiscite which Berlin is confident will
be even more favorable than was the
Austrian plebiscite for Anschluss.
Behind the S. S. and the Hitler Youth
battalions will be the steel-helmeted
Reichswehr divisions with guns, tanks and
airplanes. Should the Czechoslovak au-
thorities use force to prevent this modern
method of annexing territory, these divi-
sions will goose-step into Czechoslovakia
to put an END to a farce which has now
lasted too long," as Field Marshal Goering
said recently
Under the pressing advice of the British
and the French governments, President
Benes and Premier Hodza have indicated
to Berlin and to Henlein that they are
prepared to discuss giving the Sudeten Ger
mans limited autonomy within the
borders OF the Czechoslovak constitution.
They even suggested unoficially that the
constitution might he revised to meet the
requirements of the new situation. But
these offers were coldly rejected with a
too late" both from Hitler and Henlein.
Benes has been given questionably con-
soling assurance that the Reich does not
intend to interfere with the right Of self.
determination of the other nationalities
in the republic; that the Reich does not
intend to interfere with the Czechs and
that Hitler has not the slightest intention
OF depriving the Czechs themselves of
their independence. Benes was told OIL
clally that the Fuehrer's plans cugnt to
be clear to everybody. He wants a Reich
with all the Germans under the sign Of
the swastika; and he is determined not to
weaken the unity of that Reich by incor-
porating alien elements into it. Hence
the Czechs, the Slovaks and what have
you in that cosmopolite republic will not
be admitted into the sanctum of the Ger
man Empire.
Russians Urge Defiance.
Until April 27, when the Franco British
military convention was signed, the Prague
government looked hopefully toward Mos
COW. The Russian diplomats, oblivious
Of the fact that the army was much
weakened. had suggested resistance to the
bitter end. A number of Russian airplanes
their exact number is not officially
known, but it is believed to exceed 100
have flown over to Czechoslovakia. War
material and q number of divisions Of
the Red Army have been reported concen-
trated on the Rumanian border, ready to
cross the Dniester to help the Czecho-
slovaks. Russian diplomats were urging
Benes to defend the country, saying that
public opinion in France would force the
hand of any week-kneed government to
come to Czechoslovakia's aid. And it was
limited that even Great Britain could not
remain aloof in the event the French were
drawn into the turmoil.
The Franco British understanding, de-
spite its bellicose and spectacular appear
ance, has dampened the optimistic en-
thusiasm Of Benes. He Is more hesitant
than before about offering armed resistance