ACTION ON ENTIRE FRENCH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 2, 27 September 1939, Page 9

ACTION ON ENTIRE FRENCH FRONT

Artillery Duel Commences Across Rhine TENSION AT SWISS BORDER (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Received Sept. 26, 7.20 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 25 The "New York Times” Paris correspondent says that the Rhine Valley from Lau terburg to Basle sprang into flame yesterday. The veil seems to be lifting on the German intentions. The following reports are First: Along the 80-mile front, where till today not a single shot had been fired, the guns of the Maginot Line and the West Wall have been poundmg for 24 hour, cm many points on this front, which forms a right angle with the Moselle and Rh n River front s Its outworks actually line the banks of the Rhine. Secondly: It is semi-officially confirmed that "important” German forces have been concentrated on the. Swiss frontier in the vicinity of Basle. Thirdly: German planes have been observing the Swiss border from Basle to bchaft-

The Nazi Propaganda Minister, Dr. Goebbels, in repeating the denial that Germany intended to invade neutral countries, specially mentioned Luxem-

burg, Belgium and Holland, but omitted Switzerland. The correspondent says that the Swiss conception of neutrality implies that in the event of an invasion! Switzerland, without hesitation, will join her violater’s enemies. The importance of the Swiss border between Basle and Schaffhausen lies in the fact that there are ini three groups over the Rhine—lo at Basle, three at Waldshut and/ six at Schaffhausen. The bridges at Basle lead into the Jura region, which is well fortified, though the actual gateway, a narrow strip between Huningue and Basle (about five miles) is not included in the Maginot Line because of the scrupulous French observance of the Treaty of Paris. The other bridges lead into the Saar Valley, giving access to Neuchatel and Geneva.