Show DEATH CLAIMS BENES CZECH EX-CZECH PRESIDENT PR PRAGUE Sept 3 UP Edward up-Edward Edward Benes who helped found Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czecho Czecho- slovakia and was twice its president president president dent died Friday He was 64 The s statesman tat e sma n who rose to world acclaim from ranks of the peasants was stricken early Tu Tuesday Tuesday Tues Tues- s- s day and had been unconscious since Coughing spasms weakened weak weak- I en ened cd his tired old fighting heart hear which finally gave way He died at his country home at at pm p.m. Benes had a stroke a year ago His arteries had hardened His last year of life was doubly saddened by the coup through which Communists seized power in his republic and by the death plunge soon afterward of Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk The foreign foreign foreign for for- eign minister was the son of Thomas Masaryk with whom Benes Bencs helped to form the Czechoslovak Czechoslovak Czechoslovak Czecho Czecho- slovak republic in 1918 Sick and disheartened Benes resigned as president last June 7 rather than sign the new constitution constitution constitution the Communists drafted Klement Gottwald the Communist he had appointed premier succeeded succeeded succeeded suc suc- him He resigned as president once before when Adolf Hitler greedy for the Czechoslovak I forced the Munich crisis which preceded World War II I Mrs Benes was with him when death came She had been conI constantly constantly con con- I at his side during his fatal fatali i illness The cabinet was called into special special special cial session for Saturday to arrange arrange arrange ar ar- ar- ar range the Communist Premier Antonin arranged a broadcast to the nation The Czechoslovak radio announced Benes' Benes death before before before be be- fore the regular evening broad broad- cast Hymns and dirges then were I played I f i Ar fiM A 7 4 v f M k 4 A 7 4 4 i v. v I 3 fl I 2 I 3 V. V 7 Press Czech National Hero liero Dies at 64 Eduard Benes former fonner president akIa died Friday in Prague The year old lead leader r had been In a coma for several da days s. s I |