The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-20

(COnC1nueQ rom rage U she had telegraphed her thanks to Premier Benito Mussolini for his speech at Trieste in which he up- held the rights of all the minorities in Czechoslovakia. Observers be- lieved that if the Hungarian and Polish autonomy plans were pushed at this psychological moment, they might lead to Hungary's absorption of the Magyar areas and Poland's annexation of a small border tract holding about 82000 Poles.
 The cabinet thus was faced with the threat, of disintegration of the postwar republic and the trans formation of what is left of Czecho- slovakia.
 Hope for Miracle
 There was still hope of some miracle that might save 1t. Czechs were loath to believe that they had been condemned without a hearing by their friends and late allies. But no miracle was in sight today.
 It was taken for granted that at Adolf Hitler's 'hill of the godes" on the German Rhine probably tomor- row, he and Neville Chamberlain would agree to take part of the Sudeten area from Czechoslovakia and give it to Germany, and leave the rest of the republic, emasculated, nominally sovereign, but actually autonomous and under German suzerainty.
 With Sudeten Germany goes the French dream of a "cordon sani- taire" to keep the German war ma chine within its boundaries forever. With it goes the Sudetic defense line on which Czechoslovakia spent tens of millions of dollars, to keep its part of its defensive alliance with France. It wanted no war. With it go the industries of the Sudeten area and possibly as much as 40 per cent of the national income.
 Win Be Toy State
 For the future, Czechs said today, they are to be a toy state, dismem- bered, unable to enjoy foreign rela- tions, if it wanted to, under com- plete domination politically, mili- tarily, economically, of the Germans.
 It was reported today that the cabinet, accepting the Hitler Cham berlain-D Daladier plan in principle, might resign. Tn that event, 1t seemed likely that there would be a military dictatorship for a time under Gen. Ludvik Krecji, com mander in chief of the army.
 It was reported also that the gov- ernment intended, immediately after making its decision public, to sum- mon special session of parliament.
 For the first time yesterday, Czechs began really to believe that they had been deserted not only by Great Britain, of whose laid" they had been somewhat suspicious from the first, but by their allies, France and Russia.
 Hope persisted that by accepting in principle, and fighting diplomat ically against every concession. the extent of the catastrophe might be minimized
 But it was felt that the country, as 1t was conceived, was ruined.
 Its defenses gone, 1t would lie open for any attacker to reduce at his leisure.
 At Germany's Mercy
 Politically, 1t would be at Ger many's mercy; 1t could no longer do anything against Germany's wishes. From a key state, the cen- tral European bulwark against Ger many, where Slavic and German civilizations were to merge, but did not, 1t would be faced with a future in which its wishes amounted to nothing outside its own reduced borders.
 Economically, with the Sudeten area go the country's most indus trialized sections-the world famous Bohemian glassware factories, tex tile factories, woodwork factories. Its natural resources include lead, mercury, radium, timber, hops.
 And Czechs asked what next? Would their allies and friends next offer Poland and other countries some of the residue left from their negotiations with Germany? Would Poland get the Silesian mines, the richest coal mines in the country?
 Border Clashes
 The version of overnight border incidents received here said that troops of the Sudeten Free Corps tried at several points to penetrate Czech territory from Germany but were repulsed. Official statements said several were wounded on both sides".
 The customs building at Neusorge, near Braunau, was attacked at 2 a. m. by raiders using rifles and pis- tols. The occupants of the building threw hand grenades and the at- tackers retired when aid arrived.
 An hour later, 13 men from Ger. man territory attacked the post and customs offices and tried to enter the town but were forced back into Germany.
 At Oberklein Arpa, near March, endorf, there was another attack from two directions. The attackers used hand grenades and machine guns. The customs building was destroyed by fire. When aid arrived. the attackers retired in the direc- ton of German territorv T,wa