Evening star., 1938-09-25
M|N|STR|ESP[AN
MOVE FROM PARIS.
Premier's Office Would Go
to Vichy and Others
to Anglers.
the Associated Press


PARIS, Sept "a R.-France today
took . long stride in the progressive
mobilization OF her army, setting the
pace in Europe's fearful girding for
possible war over the future Of Czecho-
slovakia.
The French government itself was
understood to have decided to quit
Paris quickly in case of war. The
present plans, it was said, called for
removal Of the premiership and other
major ministries to vichy, while sec
ondary cabinet ofices would be trans
ferred to Anglers.
The summons to the colors plas-
tered on city walls, published by news
papers and broadcast by radio, sent
$4,000 reservists to their posts and
swelled the nations armed forces to
more than 100000 men. while other
powers put their own armies on .
war footing.
Newly-armed troops, chanting the
French patriotic hymn La Marsel-
laise," marched through concentration
centers during the night to posts
along the Rhine frontier facing Ger
many. A number Of regular army
troops also were moved from interior
barracks to the border.
Accept British Invitation.
At midnight the Foreign Ministry
announced Premier Edouard Daladier
and Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet
had accepted an invitation from the
British government for a new confer
ence in London tomorrow.
Military preparations, meanwhile.
kept their swift pace Streets were
marked of in many sections of Paris
by mobile guards as engineering corps
> mounted anti-aircraft batteries on
roofs Of buildings.
Two new DEGREES were signed for
publication in the oficial journal. 1t
was announced that one extended to
Algeria the law for total mobilization
In time of war and bringing civilian
activity under military control The
other prohibited the export Of iron
and manganese from Indo- China.
These are part Of a series OF such
measures being applied gradually to
continental France and her colonies.
Daladier Firm in Declaration.
The government of Premier Dala-
der stood firm on declaration
OF yesterday that If Germany invaded
Observation-Disclosures that Prague had
agreed to the Anglo French dismem-
berment plan-France would face her
engagements"
France has treaty commitment to
defend Czechoslovakia against unpro-
voked aggression.
M. Daladier. leaving his war min
istry Office after ordering the first
step toward mobilization, issued this
statement tonight.
THE measures necessary to security
taken this morning have been received
and executed throughout France with
the calmness and determination which
the government expected Of the ma
ton.
Our country is thus in position to
pursue in calmness and dignity the
important diplomatic negotiations on
which depends the maintenance of
peace"
Hope Hitler viii Recede.
M. Daladier's statement reflected
hope that a strong stand by demo-
cratic powers would dissuade Reichs-
fuehrer Hitler from invading Czecho-
slovakia.
A foreign ministry spokesman an
nounced at the same time that the
0uai d'Orsay understood that the only
major difficulty in the Godesbere
talks between Hitler and Prime Min
lister Chamberlain had been the ques-
tion Of German military occupation Of
Sudetenland without awaiting further
diplomatic negotiations.
The spokesman said the text Of the
German demand transmitted to
Czechoslovakia by way Of London was
not Immediately received in France.
The premier was at the war ministry
all day and M. Bonnet held q series
Of conferences with American, British,
Russian and Turkish ENJOYS at the
foreign ministry.
First Of Series of Measures,
The first formal mobilization order,
calling up two of Frances seven
"echelons" or stages of reserve man.
power was the first OF a series of
measures which sources close to the
government said had been drafted to
meet any emergency.
Today's draft, bringing the second
and third echelons of Frances con-
scripted reserve forces to the colors,
called men between the ages of Is and
45. The first echelon already was
under arms, having been called up by
classes of 10 days ago.
The order said also that labor dis
putes must be held in abeyance where
they were likely to affect proper func-
tioning of transport
The forces thus placed under arms
were covering" troops to protect the
nation in the process of complete
mobilization.
Authorities intimated that echelons
No. 4, 5 and would be called within
the next few days If the international
situation remained critical.
Echelon Based on Tasks.
The makeup Of the echelon, the gen.
eral staff's devise for graduating in
creases in Frances armed forces, Is
based on the future tasks OF the SOL
diers included and their physical con-
dition more than on their ages.
The seventh echelon includes men
up to so years of age and with the
calling of this final stage of reserve
strength all men and women would
be placed under army orders for work
behind the lines or in industry which
at that time would be completely
nationaiized
Under orders already executed
France would have her frontiers solidly
covered with men in a week.
Foreign Minister Bonnet conferred
during the day with United States
Ambassador William C. Bullitt and
other ENJOYS. Soviet Ambassador
Jacob Surits paid M. Bonnet hurried
haH-hour call in mid-afternoon.
Rjrth Story ErAes Father