FRANCE PERTURBED

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1939, Page 7

FRANCE PERTURBED

FOREIGN TROOPS IN SPAIN FRONTIER CONCENTRATIONS [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN.—-COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, April 15. The Paris correspondent of the British United Press reports that officials at Hendaye declare that the French frontier batteries are fully manned and command all the Spanish approaches. Troops are at present manning the mountain defences. Heavy guns and extra ammunition have been installed and the antiaircraft equipment has been reinforced. The Bordeaux correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says France is very perturbed by reports that 15,000 to 20,000 fresh Italian troops have landed at Cadiz and are concentrating at Logrono, 60 miles from the French-Spanish frontier. ’Phis was the site of the Italian headquarters throughout the war, but the need for concentrations has clearly passed. It is known that 9000 to 10,000 pick-

ed German technicians and artillerymen are still in Spain, distributed over the northern towns. It is considered that they are mbre useful to General Franco than the Italians in the event of an attack against France. In addition to numerous artillery, anti-tank, and anti-aircraft guns, the Germans possess 50 guns which are among the heaviest in Europe. These were largely responsible for smashing the Catalan front.

Big quantities of war material have been landed at Vigo during the last 10 days. France is also very concerned over the continued presence of hundreds of Italian and German aeroplanes, which are accommodated at a string of Ger-man-built. heavily fortified aerodromes in the northern frontier.

Official circles in Burgos do not welcome Mr. Chamberlain’s reference to the withdrawal of Italians from Spain, declaring that it is not a unilateral question between Britain and Italy. It is an offence to Spanish feelings to forget that General Franco never broke his word. He promised that foreigners would be withdrawn after the Nationalist victory.

Spanish pride, it is stated, is not taken into account if it is supposed that Spain is submitting to or following blindly any country, even to which it is closely attached. Spain is independent and does not need protection. It has the strength and right to carry out the Spanish policy. The Ist Battalion of the Welsh Guards will go to Gibraltar on April 22.

At Gibraltar, booms have been installed, and entrance to the Admiralty harbour is forbidden.

NAVAL MOVEMENTS GIBRALTAR, April 16. Two French battleships and two destroyers have arrived. . GERMAN NAVAL-PLANS BERLIN, April 15. A spokesman for the Navy Department declared that it was foolish to assume that Germany was sendingships to Spanish waters in anticipation of war. If trouble arose their first duty would be to defend their own coast. “We are planning no joint manoeuvres with the Spanish fleet,” he said. -“It is merely a training cruise decided on months ago.” The units concerned will leave home ports on April IS and will comprise three Deutschland-type “pocket battleships,” three cruisers, a flotilla of destroyers, submarines, anti auxiliary vessels. The department also stated that one pocket battleship would visit Malaga. The rest will remain in the North Atlantic mostly in. north Spanish waters.

FOOTBALL CANCELLED. PARIS, April 15. Tn avoid incidents, the Association football match between Franco and Germany fixed for April 23, has been cancelled. A match beiwoen England and France may be substituted. The cancellation was anticipated in view of the withdrawal of the German military team from the Nice horse show. It is believed that the Rugby match between France and Germany fixed for April 30 will also be cancelled. GREEK REINFORCEMENTS. (Recd. April 17, 8.45 a.m.) ATHENS, April 16. In view of the heavy concentration of Italian troops and material on the Dodecanese Islands, Greece has sent a regiment to Corfu, and is reinforcing the Albanian frontier. All war materials and stores at Corfu have ben transferred from the coastal port to the interior. A .Royal Decree has ben drawn up. mobilising twelve classes of reservists. Six torpedo boats have left for Crete. The Government has commandeered 40 freighters.