WESTERN FRONT ASSAULT LIKELY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 8

WESTERN FRONT ASSAULT LIKELY.

FRENCH WARNING.

Indications That Nazi -Attack Is Coming.

GERMAN 'PLANES SHOT DOWN.

United Press Association.—Copy right

(Receivea Tl a.m.) LONDON, April U. French military experts, says a ■Paris message, have issued a warning to be prepared for possible heavv fighting on the Western Front. "Events in Northern Europe should not lead us to forget that Western \Front preparations whieli could indicate that an attack is coming have been observed at various points."

Fighters brought down two enemy reconnaissance 'planes at dawn to'dav says a later Paris message. French fighters brought down a Hemkel and two Cornier 'planes over France. All 11 members of the crews were killed. Another Heinkel crashed in some woods and blew up.

In a message in which he claims to reflect German diplomatic views the Berlin correspondent of the "Amsterdam Telegraaf" expresses the -opinion that the Germans are likely to make further drives 'in " other directions westward. He says they cannot afford to sit still'because their front ■is nowextended over 600 miles, which can be easily, attacked.

The efficacy. of the Allied blockade was the real reason for • Germany's invasion of Scandinavia. The Polish campaign had used up vast quantities of material in a hard .winter. • •':

Transport. Crisis; The. transport - crisis - hampered Germany's economic- activity f and the Russo-German commercial treaty had not yielded the expected benefits. The Allies'- policy, iij the Balkans'-was preventing Germany from obtaining sufficient supplies there. Moreover, an exceptionally poor harvest is expected in Germany, and the whole of southeastern ' Europe.'

"In short," says the correspondent, "Germany's economic position is parlous." Germany's economic gains resulting from her invasion of Scandinavia, says '"The Times," are not only great because of the natural resources of the occupied territories, but also because : of the extraordinary stocks which Denmark accumulated recently. Denmark's petrol stocks alone total 250,000 tons. Britain', imported half of her bacon from Denmark, one-tliird of her og-vs, and one-quarter of her butter. Britain obtained 40 per cent of her iron ore through Norway, all of special grade for which British industry is equipped. She also obtained important ferroalloys from Norway, and great quantities of timber, wood, pulp and newsprint from Scandinavia generally. A message- from Copenhagen says stocks of bacon are piling up in Denmark. The Lower House has decided to buy American: goods? worth £2,500,000 —the extent of her American, credit.