The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th, 1939. HOLLAND'S POSITION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 86, 10 November 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th, 1939. HOLLAND'S POSITION

THE reported contemplation by Germany of a drive through Holland is for the purpose of turning the Allies flank. It is obvious that the German High Command considers the Maginot Dine to be impregnable and the only way that they can carry the battle to France is by turning the flank of the: Allied army. It would be immaterial to the Nazis which end of the Allied line was encircled as long as the job was accomplished,.but viewing the problem as military, the Army chiefs WouM discount an invasion of Switzerland because of the nature of the terrain. The gTCvpd in Holland, being flat, lends itself to the rapid transportation of IroOpg and munitions. The flat nature of the country in Holland, and in Belgium too, while advantageous for moving bodies of men under normal circumstances, is easily flooded, and in fact, this easy flooding constitutes Holland's first 'line of defence. Holland has no army capable of resisting a German invasion. Her population is only eight and a half millions and she is not prepared for war. One feature that must not be overlooked is that if Germany attacks Holland and crosses through Belgium. Allied assistance will not only be necessary, but imperative. Should the flooding of the country prove to be an insufficient guard against invasion, and German troops penetrate into the country, it is logical to assume that the Allies will have no difficulty, as far as ground us concerned, in throwing them back, and thus gaining a flanking movement on the Siegfried Line. .111.A --'..SjSEtS