EXPECTED MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 72, 22 September 1939, Page 7

EXPECTED MOVE

VIOLATIpN OF NEUTRAL

STATE

GERMAN FORCES

MAGINOT LINE TOO STRONG

(B.v Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received September 22, 11.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 21. The Paris correspondent 'of the "New York Times" says that instead of an Allied attempt being made to storm the West Wall, a new phase of the war on the Western Front is likely, with a German attempt at an enveloping movement, necessitating violation of the neutrality of a small adjoining State. Some French military experts believe a move may be made through the Netherlands. With the threat of blockade more definite daily, the German High Command must strike after making a quick decision. An attempt on the Maginot Line cannot secure it, especially as the French have consolidated their positions as much as 15 miles beyond and have dug trenches at the very outworks of the West Wall. It would be a long and hazardous task to try to drive them back. The French base their suggestion of an invasion of the Netherlands on the fact that the Dutch fortifications are improvised works, also on the fact that this would be a good jump-ing-off place for aerial atacks on Britain. However, it is considered that if the Germans took the serious step of violating Dutch neutrality they would hope to obtain a decisive result, which could only be obtained by engaging the opposing armies. It is recalled that the historic road for the invasion of > France is via the Oise Valley, entailing passing through Belgium, or both Belgium and Luxembourg. Intense artillery fire continued along the Luxembourg border today. Belgian sources continue to report German. concentrations at Aix-la-Chapelle.