GERMAN TROOPS MASSING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 7

GERMAN TROOPS MASSING

BIG CONCENTRATIONS v IN FRANCE movement under cover OF DARKNESS (Received July 31, 11,50 8.m.) NEW YORK, July 30. The correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting system reports the heavy massing of German troops in Nazioccupied' France. These troops are moving only under cover of darkness. The Germans are mobilising tremendous numbers of troops towards the French coast from Marseilles to Belgian ports. It is reported from Basle that Germany has closed all Swiss road, rail, and frontier posts, except St. Mangarethen, which is on the old Austrian 1 frontier. The Berlin newspaper "Volkischer Beobachter” states; “A war on British mil will be anything but a pleasant stroll through the English countryside. Englishmen and Scotsmen are not cowards and no doubt will defend themselves courageously.” Authorised sources describe the daily air raids along the coasts against chip-, ping as a softening process designed to rattle the English military leadership and caUSe nervousness among civilians, besides damaging military objectives. ' DEFENCE NEEDS ' of u.s. (Received July 31. 11,30' p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 31. ' Mr Roosevelt to-day reiterated his .-oAfief in compulsory universal service as the Senate Military Committee unanimously approved his request for authority to mobilise the National Guard Reserve for a year’s intensive training. Mr Roosevelt said the situation today was not analagous to 1917 when America, s#nt troops abroad to be trained. “Then there was security for the country,’’ he said. ‘‘Now it depends on having trained and seasoned '• soldiers in adequate numbers when needed.” N.Z. HOSPITAL IN BRITAIN LONDON, July 30. Tho High Commissioner of New Zealand (Mr W. J. Jordan) accompanied by Mrs Jordan and Miss Gweri Jordan, visited the No, 1 New Zealand Hospital in the south of England, which is in the charge of Colorml A. C. McKillop. ■ The hospital, which was recently constructed, consists of hutments and includes an operating theatre and , : 2£-rny apparatus. The doctors, noii- ’ cornmlssioned officers, and staff occupy. ; houses. . 1 Jordan’s party also viewed the fcjivalescent home, a fine residence ' ?y e h is most suitable for the pur--1 and which was made available by ■ ’ me generosity of a local woman. Mr -,J»dan was impressed With the * ar |9Sgement3. A jwut ];;0 cases of minor illness We a under treatment. k..'?