“BUILT LIKE A WARSHIP”

Evening Star, Issue 23326, 24 July 1939, Page 11

“BUILT LIKE A WARSHIP”

HITLER INSPECTS THE SIEGFRIED LINE A line of 12,000 steel and concrete forts, ranging from pill boxes to largo underground strongholds, now stretches from the city of Wesel, half-way along the Dutch border,' along the French frontier to Switzerland. This is Germany’s new Siegfried Lino —the Nazis’ answer to the French Maginob Lino. The larger subterranean type of fort, which are reported to be equipped with batteries of heavy machine guns, trench mortars, and flame-thrOwers, are described as being “ reminiscent of a modern warship.” The official German news agency, giving the most detailed description yet issued of the Siegfried Line, following the recent visit of Herr Hitler, says “ In the Moselle Valley the Fuhrcr inspected many-storied fortifications of most modem construction, buried inside the hills. Deep in the earth there are comfortable quarters for whole units. All parts are heated, and there is a first-class kitchen and wash and shower rooms. All quarters are gasproofed, and even bombardment for a week could not damage them. Long passages, the height of a man, are lighted by electricity, and load deep down under the earth to numerous advanced fortified towers equipped with heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns. One story lower are extensive machine rooms, munition storerooms, and workshops. From above nothing can.be seen. Highway barricades and tank traps and barbed wire entanglements protect the secret roads which approach the subterranean passages. Particular emphasis is laid by the German Press upon the strength ot anti-aircraft defences in the southern section of the Siegfried Line.