European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 13, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page i the stars and stripes saturday March 13, 1948 former ambassador says czech reds feared free vote coup carried out Jfe Fco rang of against will of people editor s note according to or. Juraj Slavik who am signed his Post As czech ambassador to the u. S., the communist coup in Czecho Slovakia was engineered be cause of red fears they would lose in the elections and the desire to add an other Buffer state for Russia As a defense bastion in the event of War. Slavik resigned his Post in Washington in protest. He has announced his intention of organizing and possibly heading a czech govern ment in exile and tells in the following articles written for ins of the Aims of the newly established dictatorship in Prague and of his fears that Freedom already is being re pressed in his Homeland by Juraj Slavik the communists in Czecho Slovakia were Well aware that they were destined to lose the legally planned elections As Long As the balloting was secret and free. This was the consensus of the most reliable information i washable to obtain. From some Czecho to slay democracy before the balloting because both Moscow and its henchmen knew that if such an election were held they would suffer defeat. The democratic forces acted too late. It is probably accurate to say that they did not suspect a revolutionary move. They did How Ever strive to prevent the communists from filling police posts and resigned from the Cabinet in protest. This mass resignation gave the communists the Cue to act earlier than they had originally intended. I am pretty 4well convinced they. Would have acted anyway. The breathing spell Yould have lasted Only a few Days. The weakness of the com this photo was taken in Prague As detachments of the czech police and workers militia stood in review before communist Premier Klement Gottwald. The Premier thanked the militia for keeping Public peace during the political changes in Prague. Imp Czechoslovakia is a Buffer state and a bastion of defense in a future War 2 the communists wished slovak sources i gathered that rumours were afloat that at the suggestion of Premier Klement Gottwald soviet troops might be withdrawn from Germany or Austria across czechoslovak soil in a Parade of strength to intimidate the voters on election Day but my informants were unanimously agreed that such a trans Parent display of soviet Power and fear mongering would not scare the Freedom Loving Czecho slovak Peoples. On the contrary As i believe it happening right now under the most ruthless purges they would stand firm and pile up a stagger ing defeat of the Moscow guided communist party. F wanted defense bastion Why did the communists de cide to act before the National elections for two reasons 1 because Shotgun de ices lofty Antenna Kansas City a a Sharp shooting Steelworker solved the problem of removing a Dan Ger due ice coating from a radio Antenna atop the 28-Story Telephone building Here. He shot the ice off with a 12-gauge Shotgun efforts to Clear the ice with torches proved futile after More Ihab. An hour of trying.  John a. Davis operator of an Iron works sent for his Shotgun. Liis first blast missed but the next five did the  slender steel whip Antenna mounted on a 60-foot pole had leaned perilously under the ice Load. There was fear it might snap and fall on traffic in a Busy downtown Street below. Nigerian Parley urges More labor bargaining ito1tdon a a joint Anglo French belgian labor conference. Held in Nigeria recommended the a tension wherever possible of voluntary systems of collective bar gaining i dealing with african native workers. The eight Day conference was one of a series to be held Over a two year period by the three nations in. In Effort to coordinate and build up colonial production. Munits was highlighted when they sought to pass extreme socialist and confiscatory legis lation. The democratic parties sternly opposed these dictates. The latter hoped for a calming of tempers after the free elections. In Short the red Putsch was carried out against the will of the great majority of  and slovaks. The aim now is to destroy party machinery by terror and pressure and follow the -. Well known practice of Divide and Rule. Only the weaklings will support them. When Fiese weaklings Are no longer needed they will be thrown aside. The totalitarian methods of the communists Are the same As hit Ler s in the occupied countries. Many czechs and slovaks Are fighting the new dictatorship. They need Hope and courage from us who live in free lands. Our people indeed did not anticipate a violent seizure of Power because they put their Faith Iru the Long democratic tradition of Czechoslovakia which possessed infinite National reserves Well disciplined and Well organized dedicated to the cause of individual Freedom. Of example there. Were the Sokols a non party gymnastic organization with a membership of Over a million. It was also Felt that although the so called revolutionary labor movement was mostly directed by the communists in the event of a sudden Redbird for Power the democratic ele ments in labor would be Able to mobilize their forces and nullify subversive efforts by an effective counter move. In this connection i might Point out that Only two months ago president Benes told a group of Bishops that Czechoslovakia was Safe. The situation he said was As nazis different from that in the neigh j Boring countries. He remarked that in Yugoslavia Poland and in j Hungary there had been som j kind of dictatorship before to \ War. It will be recalled that presi a Dent Benes when he reformed i government in exile went to Moscow to come to terms with Gotvald who had bitterly criticized the exile regime. Left in London 5f it was left in London at that a time holding seven Cabinet Post a during the interim period. The i communists held out stubbornly a for the key posts of ministry of Interior and the ministry of de 5 sense. L before departing for Moscow a president Benes gave me every Assurance that he would staunchly oppose giving those All important portfolios to Gottwald s comm f nist followers. As things turned out however Benes in order to obtain an agreement with the communist j party had to give the ministry of j Interior to Vaclas Nosek a rank f ing communist. .-1 Nosek was then reputed to  a "moderate1 communist and did in fact demonstrate that to wished to cooperate with the othe parties. But As our own experience now bitterly shows the same things has occurred in other countries a Eastern Europe you can t do business with the communists stooges of a totalitarian Power they Are strongly disciplined they have no will of their owns As individuals they possess no Freedom of Choice or movement they. Are coerced into executing the orders of a red Fuhrer. A years ago. Bag address All tetters to b bag editor 7744thstars and stripes unit. Apo 175, u. army. In clude name and address names Are deleted on request. Due to space limitations letters May recut for publication provided Sulci editing does not alter the meaning of the original. March 13, 1944 it soviet forces report the Cap turf of the Black sea port of Kherson 30 Miles Southeast of Nikolayev March 13, 1945 j . 1st army troops Adan Etc of record Over the rough Green Bills philippine storms injured victim complains about night driving hazards this is a complaint about the present night driving hazards that Are raising the traffic accidents and fatalities in the dec. Way Are the germans allowed to drive and Park their trucks loaded with lumber or heavy Timber without proper Tail lights and parking lights to show overhanging loads Many accidents have been caused by this stupidity and carelessness with the knowledge that it is against All military and civil Laws. I. Understand that there is a material shortage in All items and the _ procurement of the necessary lights is practically impossible so the one thing to clo is keep off the toads at nights. It will save lots of trouble to Drivers and probably Many lives or broken bodies."-. Injured victim editor s ote the Neucom Provost marshal Hak this to say on the subject the problems of sub Standard equipment on indigenous vehicles and the improper Highway parking of indigenous vehicles Are recognized As major hazards throughout the european command. According to military government German Law is adequate to Cuper both of these conditions but Domestic enforcement of regulations is inadequate due to insufficient transportation and trained personnel for traffic inspection and regulation enforcement. The writer of the above letter has overlooked certain fundamentals of skillful motor vehicle operation. These Are included in the general term defensive driving As follows never overdrive your headlights and regardless of the unsafe acts of other users of the Public Highway always control your own vehicle so that it adequately compensates for the unsafe acts of. Other persons. Defensive driving As outlined above was in effect much misery and economic loss would be  j. Searches for Golden Arrow chapter i served with the 8th Golden Arrow. Division All through the War and would like it know if there is an 8th division society which has been formed in the states. I would like to know the address of any Golden Arrow Man who might know anything about it or if. There is a chapter formed in the dec. Sex Golden Arrow Man " weather Bureau said storms in the past year were the worst Ever to strike these islands causing 1,154 deaths. Many others Are still missing the ten big and three Small typhoons Cost 895,500,000 in prop erty damage not including the danish motor ship Kina which Sank of Samar in a Christmas storm. Weathermen said full extent of the toll in property and lives May never be known. Way. March 13, 1946 the general motors corp United automobile workers Cio come to  ending a Day old strike. March 13, 1947 president Truman ask Cong re to Supply $400,000,000 arid Amei lean military advisers to Gree a and Turkey. The stars and stripes saturday Ratcli 15, 19col. William m. Summers executive editor managing editor editor. Jack Els executive manage chief distribution service Maurice r Kirkwoo Bernard j. Meguigan. News bureaus Frankfurt. 2813-228h Vienna Berlin a 846081-846680 Wiesbaden Bremen. U6  22280-22202 Trieste but thai to v.-.-.wlot-76518 Garmisch morn lab. Civil 480352-55 or military 2936 the european edition is published daily at Pung Rodu Hesse Germany for the u. occupation forces under use auspices i troop information and education service Neucom Tel. Irankfuitk21151-21152. The stars and stripes of Ungstad correspondence should be addressed to j7th stars and stripes unit Apo Ito. s  to the be Yorko Iee should be sent to 6 Wushi Stop Street n. this is not an official publication of the do been Teryld As second class matter sept 22. 19. At the Vostok Fly .at-new-.york, n. Y., under the act of March 3. If s