That the Reich is determined to go to considerable lengths to. help hier Sudeten kin is not doubted, but whether she will risk war with a power stronger. than Czechoslovakia 4s" problematical. The intention of German diplomacy, authoritative quarters state, seems to be to imress foreigners with a view that the Reich is ready for anything.
Tt is understood that the British Ambassador in Berlin, Sir Nevile Henderson, left Herr von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister, yes: terday with an impression that the Reich would stand firm and was not ready to compromise, The Britisn Attitude The British Government is satis fed that, in making arrangements to negotiate with Herr Henlein, the Czechs have made a constructive response to Anglo-French appeals for an orderly and. peaceful settlement, The British Government feels it has done all in its power to impress upon Prague and Berlin the importance of maintaining peace, Tt is confirmed that the Ministry fof National Defence in Prague has called up ong class of reservists and second-line reservists together with special units, The reason given in the Czech capital for this action is the need of familiarising reservists with some newly-introduced with various nationality groups Jwould lead to a satisfactory settle-
Czechoslovakia, ike the rest of! Europe, the President added, was Jarming, and, if necessary, he was sure they would defend the state to the uttermost and would do it sue For Prague, May 21.
Czechoslovakia today called certain specially trained, Army units to the colours" for" "special " exercises" after other Army" units had been called out to preserve peace during. forthcoming elections. "Despite the massing of troops on the "German. frontier, Czech officials said new forces called t> the colours did nol constitute mabi-ization Czech frontier guards earlier were reinforced by hastily mobilized reserves who marched toward the German frontier as Germany concentrated troops for what Czechoslovakia feared would be an armed Invasion.
The German Sudeten Party, comprising practically all Germans in Czechoslovakia, attacked the Government for massing troops on the: frontier. A. Sudeten statement issued today said the Czech Army had dug trenches along the frontier and erected barricades at strategic points. Even civilians are being called' on to assist in erecting the barricades, the: Sudeten statement said.
May ital 70,000
Observers believed at least 70,000) reserves had been mobilized in addi tion to the regular Army of 150,000 From 2 o'clock this afternoon until 4 o'clock this evening taxis, "buses, trains and private cars carri¢d Czech Jmen to Army camps after reserve unit mobilization orders had been Jannounced. Some of the camps wet jon the very frontier, Men were routed out of coffee shops, offices and homes when the call was spread by pons, At the same time, the Czech author!- ties are stated to be aware of the need to make good the inadequate strength of prospective forces, {0 safeguard order and security in the resent tense situation, and to pre" Vent any further incidents of "the nature of those reported from differ ent parts of the country. It is une derstood that there is no question of, mobilisation, Farmers! Deaths Investigated An. immediate enquiry has been instituted into the deaths of two 40- year-old German Sudeten farmers, who were killed yesterday by the Czech police near the frontier between Germany and Czechoslovakia, Both farmers, it is stated, were motor-cycling very fast near the border and disregarded a police order halt, whereupon the police fired on the machine but inadvertently hit the riders, who died shortly after admission into. hospital, The press in Berlin today refers to this "brutal murder, which surpasses: the excesses of the past days." "Der Angriff" says that the "responsibility for terrorist measures against the Sudeten Germans rest with the Czech Government.
'Other typical newspaper coulments. are "A bestir] Czech murder" and "Czechs hunt human bein "We fear nothing at all," declared Dr, E, Benes, President of Czecho-Slovakia, in a speech at 'Tabor last evening. He hoped, however, that another' European ' war would _be avoided and that the coming talks telephone and house-to-house mes-Jsengers, "Most men hardly had time uss' their wives goodbye because Jor the short notice given for reserves report at their respective camps.
They hasty mobilization of the reserves was regarded by observers jas a demonstration of the Czech JArmy's readiness for any emergency, Hundreds of civilians meanwhile JJammed into gas mask stores where they. were buying equipment even for their horses, cats and dogs—United Press, Concentrations Denied Bucharest, May 22.
Reports of the concentration Roumanian troops on the Czechoslovak' frontier are emphatically denied semi-officially here—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.