SAAR PLEBISCITE

Evening Star, Issue 21904, 15 December 1934, Page 17

SAAR PLEBISCITE

THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE GMMANDER LEAVES LONDON , (British Official WireleM.) Pres* Association—By . Telegraph—Copyright . RUGBY, December 13. Major-General Brind, who is to command the international force in the • Saar, has left London and will reach Saarbrucken to-morrow. An advance party of British officers armed there to-day, and the main body will proceed via. Calais nest week. The last time- a force of this size went to the . Continent its purpose was to make war; its object now is to keep peace. NAZI FLAMS UPSET LONDON, December 14. The * Daily Mail says that the British contingent in the Saar includes a fleet of twelve wireless cars similar to that from which His, Majesty wirelessly directed the tank operations at Alder■hot in the summer time,, and twenty motor cycle despatch riders. , . The ‘News-Chronicle’ emphasises that there was no warlike ' departure of General Brind and. his. staff. All travelled in mufti. The correspondent of ‘The Times’ , at Saarbrucken says: “ The British decision to send troops to the. Saar came in the nick of time. - Serious disorders would have followed failure to agree at Geneva, and it is even declared that the Nazis had definitely planned a rising, for the night of January 13, the day of ' the plebiscite, beginning by seizing the’ ■ main electric station at Saarbrucken, , plunging a largo area in darkness and paralysing the railway services, but a large scale movement is no longer .feared..; Indeed, it is suspected that the Nazis secretly welcomed the excuse for not attempting a dangerous movement. • The' advent of Christmas has given the Saar, more cheerful animation than: it has known for a long time. The streets are decorated with evergreens, Christmas trees, and electric lamps. The crowds, are rejoicing, their apprehensions having'been dispelled. Nazi flags have almost disappeared, while the Hitler salute is less.prominent than it was sis months ago.” ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISPOSAL Of TROOPS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 14. (Received December 15, at 11 a.m.) : The commanders of the Netherlands 'and Swedish contingents (General Baron Van Vest Tot Voord and Colonel Roolossem) reached ;tho Saar territory yesterday and immediately made contact with ; the: staff .officers in the r ' ‘ 'British ’ iThe 1 Italian contingent will be under the command of . Brigadier-General Visconti Prasca, and consists of . two battalions of grenadiers and one of some other regiment. /■.. , Mr Geoffrey Knox, president of the Saar Governing Commission, also arrived at Saarbrucken', yesterday, and ■ ■ arrangements are proceeding between him apd.: the- officers of the force for the disposal pf the troops throughout . the .area. ■ , Correspondents in the Saar state that the crowds are. displaying friendly interest in the parties of the international forces engaged in billeting and other .arrangements. The British contingent , will be accompanied to the territory by the battalions’ bands and colours. ■