HEAVY GUNS ON WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 94, 15 January 1940, Page 8

HEAVY GUNS ON WEST FRONT

Bombardment Near Luxemburg

ACTIVITY DESPITE COLD By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received January 14, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. The most violent cannonade of the east Moselle sector since the outbreak of the war started at 1 p.m. today, states a Paris message. Planes were active and flew over Luxemburg. Shells falling in Luxemburg caused craters the depth of which indicated that guns of a heavier calibre were being used. The French official evening communique states: “There was increased artillery activity on various points on the front between the Blies and Rhine Rivers. The air forces have been active on both sides.”

Today’s German communique .states: “Apart from isolated nightly .flights, which again were partly carried out by violating Dutch neutrality, there have been no important events on the Western Front.”

An official commentator yesterday said that’the bitter weather continued to reduce land activity. Gales hindered air actions, but the French carried out numerous reconnaissances over the linos, and fighters brought down a German reconnaissance plane during two dog-fights. German planes appeared over north and north-east France.

HUGE INCREASE

Fighting Strength Of Allied Armies LONDON, January 12. There have been tremendous increases in the strength, of the Allied armies, according to two distinguished soldiers. Sir Charles Gwynn informed the Associated Press that 500,000 welltrained men have been added to Britain’s fighting strength since the outbreak of the war. Two hundred thousand militia completed their training before January 2. An increasingly large number of training camps is operating. General Duval, in an article in the Paris newspaper “Le Journal,” says he is convinced that Germany will not dispose more divisions than the next spring. The Maginot Line has been lengthened westward to the North Sea and eastward almost to the Jura Mountains. A German manoeuvre through Belgium and Switzerland would really mean only a German frontal attack on a more extended front.

SELF-GOVERNMENT

Indian • Congress Pledge

BOMBAY, January 12

Mahatma Gandhi’s organized millions will recite the following pledge on January 26, when Congress holds its tenth annual celebrations: —

“We believe it is the inalienable right of the Indian people to have freedom to enjoy the fruits of their toil.

*:We believe that if any Government deprived, the people of these rights the people would have the further right to alter or abolish it. The British Government has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on exploitation of the mass'ej and has ruined India economically, culturally, and spiritually.

“We believe India must sever her British connexion and obtain complete independence. “We recognize that the most effective way of. gaining our freedom is not by violence. India gained in strength and self-reliance and inarched a long way toward independence after adopting peaceful legitimate methods. It is by adhering to these methods that we will attain independence.

“We know that although we are out to destroy the Imperialist system we have no quarrel with Englishmen, whether they are officials or nonofficials.”

SMALL INVESTORS

Defence Stock Response

(British Official Wireless.i

(Received January 14, 0 p.m.) LONDON, January 13,

A total of £55,248,035 sterling has been subscribed for defence by small investors in the savings certificates of tlie Defence Department in the seven weeks since the campaign was opened.

DOCTOR LABOURERS

German Use For Jews

111 I <■>.«!>. ■! -Copvrlsllt. (Received January 14, 10 p.m.) ZURICH, January 13.

The “Neuezuercher Zeitung” states that thousands of German Jews are being employed in order to make, up the labour shortage. Doctors, lawyers, and company directors are clearing snow and building roads. At least 20,000 of Berlin’s Jewish population of 100,000 are thus employed.

TWENTY ARRESTS

Alleged Communists Cell

PARIS. January 12.

The police Imre arrested 20 persons who are accused of forming a Communist cell in an important aviation factory.

CARIBBEAN SEA DANGER

NEW YORK, January 13.

The departure from Curacao of the German freighter Consul Horn, carrying the crews of other German craft, has convinced informed people that German warships are either in or near the Caribbean Sea.