Anti-jewish Demonstrations in Prague Suppressed but Fascist Papers Continue Agitation

Swords and bayonets were required by the police and the gendarmerie here in order to establish peace and order in the streets of Prague which has been in an uproar as a result of the anti-German and anti-Semitic demonstration growing out of nationalist protests against the showing of German talking pictures in the Prague theatres. A score or more of people were arrested today and several injured. The total now under arrest as a result of the street riots is over a hundred.

INSPIRED BY EX-GENERAL

It is now revealed that the disturbances, which were led by the Czech nationalists and Fascists, were inspired by ex-General Gadja, who was dismissed from the Czecho Slovakian army in 1926 for alleged treasonable connections with the Bolsheviks, the reprimanded ex-ambassador Pergler and the nationalist deputy Stribny.

While the authorities are doing their utmost to maintain peace it is generally believed that a large part of the population approves of the anti-German and anti-Semitic outburst as a demonstration of national virility. Thus far only two papers have openly condemned the disorders as a disgrace to the Czecho Slovak Republic.

In the meantime the Fascist press is continuing pogrom agitation against Germans and Jews, going so far as to proclaim a special slogan, namely, “Clean Prague of any German and Jewish schweinerei.” This is to be done before the state celebration of October 28, the birthday of the Republic. The papers also urge that the German-Czech coalition be broken.

INCITING PRESS CONFISCATED

The police have confiscated a large number of the inciting papers. The Fascists, however, are now extending their opposition to American, English and French films which they demand should be destroyed. They also ask the establishment of one Republic from Erz to the Tatra Mountains which would be a pure Slavic state.

Any attempts at a renewal of the demonstrations will be energetically suppressed by the police. The only demonstrants against the Fascists are members of Dr. Eduard Benes’ party who are displaying banners saying “We do not need Hitlerites here.” At a meeting of the Prague city council today, Mayor Baxa, replying to a question from Dr. Ludwig Singer, Jewish member of parliament, declared that he would permit no further disturbances, but admitted that he had himself recently intervened with the authorities against the expansion of the German elements in Prague.

The Jewish populace finds the anti-Jewish agitation especially surprising in view of the fact that the Jews are partly Czechish and assimilated and partly Jewish nationalists. The Jews here have no connections at all with any German parties. On the other hand, some believe that the victory of the Fascists in Germany encouraged the Czech Fascists to attack the Jews.