Czech Jitters

Last week German troops began to pour into the Tatra Mountains near the Polish frontier. Quickly rumors spread that Slovakia (whose autonomy Germany has guaranteed for 25 years) was to be partitioned at once between Hungary and the Third Reich. Poles, keeping a sharp eye on Nazi troops, saw only a flanking threat to Poland in the move, believed that probably Germans were simply fortifying their strategic position (as they have a right to by treaty) for future haggling over Danzig.

Czech Government officials jittered --though the population stayed calm -- when Heinrich Himmler, dread chief of all Nazi police, suddenly appeared in Prague. Reasons given for Herr Himmler's visit were several and varied. Some said he was there to clean up the messy shooting at Kladno of a German policeman; others said that the Nazis were preparing to abolish the protectorate, at least take over its police. Nazis denied both rumors, said Police Chief Himmler was in Prague for "a brief inspection tour." By week's end Himmler was back in Berlin.

One visible result of his visit was the closing (after powwows with Protector Baron Constantin von Neurath, Sudeten Leader Karl Hermann Frank) of the Bohemian and Moravian frontiers, the outlawing of all strikes and lockouts.

Biggest fish to slip through the Nazi frontier net (in a sealed freight car) was Vojta Benes, brother of ex-President Eduard Benes. Brother Vojta brought some blood-curdling tales from home, where he has been in hiding since Nazis took over.

Said he in Warsaw: Between 40,000 and 50,000 Czechs are in concentration camps.

"Many are tortured by the Gestapo and some have been beaten to death. There are localities in Czecho-Slovakia where half the population is in jail."

Such hair-raisers seemed a little out of plumb when 20,000 Czechs set out for the funeral of Czech Policeman Johann Mueller, killed by Germans last week. To his funeral the Czech Unity Party sent a crown of thorns. But when the jittery Czech Government (with concurrence of the Protector) called the rites off, the 20,000 Czechs went quietly home.

Goriest incident of the week was the murder of six women (three Czechs, two Slovaks, one German), of whom one was buried alive, one burned. Murder motives were hopelessly, perhaps deliberately tangled, though Germans hinted Czechs killed the women because they befriended Nazis.

Funniest incident occurred at a football match in Prostejov, Moravia, when a second-rate player named Benes was taken out of the game. Shouted enthusiastic football fans: "We want Benes! Put Benes back!" To the question: " Which Benes?" they roared: "Both!"

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