FRENCH GARRISONS

Evening Star, Issue 23055, 6 September 1938, Page 9

FRENCH GARRISONS

MOBILISATION EXERCISES Press Association—By Telegraph-rCopyriglit LONDON, September 5. The Metz correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the Cadres holding the Maginot line in the Metz and Strasbourg areas have been recalled for frontier mobilisation exercises in order to test- the practicability of the arrangements. REASON FOR MOBILISATION STATEMENT BY M. DALADIER. PARIS, September 5. (Received September 6, at 10 a.m.) Numbers of French reservists have been called to the colours for the purr pose of manning the Maginot line frontier garrisons at full strength. All leave has temporarily been cancelled. M. Daladier, after a conference with M. Bonnet, issued a communique stating that leave had been cancelled and reservists had been called up as an unavoidable precaution in view of the German frontier reinforcements. He urged calmness, which “is an essential element in the maintenance of peace. In any case, according to latest information, the ■general situation is apparently tending toward an appreciable relaxation in tension.” FRENCH-CZECH CONTACTS PRAGUE, September 5. (Received September 6, at 11.10 a.m.) It is learned that France gave Czechoslovakia advance information of her military precautions. It is not expected that this will be followed at present by exceptional Czech measures as vigilance has long prevailed. “READY FOR ANY EVENTUALITY" PARIS, September 5. (Received September 6, at 2.15 p.m.) The “ precautionary measures ” include navy and air force preparations and cancellation of the leave of officials, Ministries, gendarmes on the frontiers, and employees of prefectures. “ We are ready for any eventuality, and are not losing sight of the fact that Germany has 1,500,000 men under arms,” declared a Foreign Officer. He announced that it was intended to man fully the forts and defences of the Maginot line and other frontier garrisons, but emphasised that there was no question that the mobilisation measures could be regarded as a series of separate operations. The newspapers do not feature the measures, which are accepted by the civil population without excitement.