Evening star., 1938-09-13

sion Of pressure upon Czechoslovakia
In spite Of this, a base campaign
started in which all Europe organized
to serve the criminal aims Of a gov
ernment which intended to put an
election under military pressure in
order to intimidate citizens and cheat
them Of their right to vote.
This campaign, which needed some
moral Justification for its aims, in
its unscrupulousness did not even
shrink from casting suspicion upon
great state, to alarm all Europe
and II need be tumble it into bloody
war.
As Germany had no designs and
on the contrary was convinced that
communal elections would confirm
the rights OF the Sudeten Germans,
the Reich's government on its part
did nothing.
This. however, was taken as an in
ducement to assert that, after Moth
ing had happened, Germany had re-
treated owing to the determined stand
of the Czechs and firm interventions
by England and France. .
You will understand. my party COM
rades, that a great power cannot ac-
cept for the second time such base
interference. Therefore / have drawn
the necessary consequences as a pre-
caution.
CZechdow Cannot Be
Reconciled Through Leniency.
I am . National Socialist and as
such accustomed to strike back I'M
mediately against any attack. know
quite we'll that through ieniency such
an irreconcilable enemy Is czechdom
cannot be reconciled but instead II
will be melted to even greater are
gance.
The old German Reich can be q
warning for us. In its love for peace
it went to the limit Of self-surrendel
and yet in the end 1t could not pre-.
vent war.
In recognition Of these facts. de.
cided May 20 on very severe measures
Firstly, on my orders, the strength.
ening of the army and an extensive
increase in the air force was begun i'm.
mediately and executed.
Secondly, I ordered immediate ex.
tension Of our fortification works ir
the west.
You may rest assured that since
May % the most gigantic fertilization
works Of all times have been under
construction.
I ordered German Highways Com
missioner Fritz Todt to do this task
Owing to the power Of his organizing
genius, he has accomplished one Of
the most tremendous achievements Of
all times. should like to give just
a few figure:
Hundreds Of Thousands Of
Workers on Western Fortifications.
At the western fertilization works
underway for two years there now are
employed:
In Todt's organization there are
4 ZlO,UUU WOl AClS AL dAA, AAA SNAASASA
$4,000 workers, beyond that 100000
men of the labor service and numerou!
army engineering battalions and in
fantry divisions. Not counting ma
terial delivered by other means d
transportation, the German railway
alone deliver approximately 5000
freight cars daily. We are usint
| 100, 900 tons Of gravel daily. and th'
fortifications in the west will be com
plete before beginning Of winter
Their defense capacities already ar'
completely assured and completed
They consist Of 1900 armored ant
ferro-concrete works.
Behind this front Of steel and con-
crete, which has partly three line
and at certain points four, and up Il
so kilometers (about 80 miles) II
depth, the German people stant
armed.
have made this the most tremen
dous effort Of all times in order u
serve peace. But I will under no cir
cumstances look idly on continuance
of oppression Of German nationals II
Czechoslovakia.
Mr.. Benes uses tactics, he talks ans
says he will organize negotiations
clear up questions Of procedure afte
the Geneva pattern and make small
concessions for the sake Of quiet.
Things cannot go on like this. Thi
IS not q matter Of mere words, but o
| rights-violated rights. What Ger
mans demand is the right OF self