The Washington times., 1938-05-27

their weapons when, six days
100000 were going to overv
Czechoslovakia now will never
suffer the fate of Austria, but
Czechs believe they escaped it by
orly "a hours.
This country'S war strength is
S50. 1000 trained soldiers, and ever
since last Friday night when one
class was formally called to the
CclorS they have been steadily
flowing in a khaki stream of grim
faced men to the frontier facing
tie third reich.
ARMY READY
It Is not called mobilization, and
there is no avowed intention or
immediate necessity for putting
every available man in uniform.
But the framework of war
strength army is ready now to be
expanded into four notifications
within a few hours.
Under the law, one class of 80
900 to 10000 was added to the
standing strength of around 1907
900 men, but an uncertain num-
Der of technical troops also was
called up.
Foreign military observers be
lieve these technicians, including
every variety of officer and non,
commissioned officer from anti
aircraft specialists to pilots and
tank corps, must number more
than 100000.
HALF-MILLION MEN
30 that it would not surprise
observers if tiny Czechoslovakia
were soon able to present a front
of half a million well-armed mer
against whatever aggressor might
wish to cross her frontiers BY
force. And that is enough mer
to hold off any army long enough
for Czechoslovakia's allies to come
to her help.
Therefore, although not yer!
hopeful of peace, the CZechs ar
certain now that they will never
like Austria, have to surrende
without blow.
CALLrO FOR MONTH
CzechoSlovakians point out tina
1t is not necessary for an arm
which intends to attack to be az
tually at the frontier, but for Al
army which intends merely to d.
fend itself without going outsic
its territory, it is extremely deSir
BILE to be at the border when TT
fighting begins.
Possible duration Of the criSi
may be measured by the fact tina
the law calling these men to tn
Czech colors decreed a poSsibl
four weeks of exercises" but fixe
the minimum period until afte
June u, when the last three q
the nationwide municipal elet
tions will be held.
The first election last Sunda
was the smallest, with only Is
communities voting. Next SUI
day 2,422 communities will vot
and, on June IL, $500 commun
ties will vote.
PEACE HOPES WANE
In hundreds of communitie
Nazi Germans will ballot again'
Czechs and, while last Sunday
elections passed off happily witt
out incident, each successive ele
ton carries greater possibilities
friction.
At the same time, hope for
peaceful, permanent settlement
Nazi-Czech differences receded t.
day with publication by Konra
Henlein, leader of the Nazi &c
man Sudeten party. of a drast
statement to the Daily Mail thu
he demands:
/. Complete autoNomy, IN
GLIDING police power, over all o
the Sudeten German part o
Czechoslovakia, including $3.50
900 Germans, by this autumn, o.
2. A plebiscite to answer tn
question: post thou wish
anschluss with Germany o.
with CzechoSlovakia?"
Otherwise, he said, Germany "
no longer tolerate the Situatio
but will use direct action to bril-
Sudeten Czechoslovakia into t
German Reich.
This is the first time Henle
has ever publicly admitted the
tention to incorporate the Sudett
part Of CzechoSlovakia into G
many.
On the other hand, the Henle
party council formally disavoW
it for the sake of preserving t
appearance Of conciliatory al
tude and continuance Of negot
tens with the Czech governme