READY TO MARCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1939, Page 7

READY TO MARCH

GERMAN ARMY PREPARED

DECISIVE MOVE EXPECTED

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, August 23. Germany’s elation grows as the world, after a troubled night, turns its eyes towards Moscow, where Herr von Ribbentrop has arrived. It is confidently expected that the pact will be signed within a matter of hours, after which Germany’s next and decisive move might follow at any minute.

There is now no doubt that the German army is ready to march at a mo meat's notice.

The German Press significantly does not mention the British Cabinet’s statement. Officials, however, appear surprised at the statement’s firmness, but profess to continue to believe that neither Britain nor France will fight.

The same quarters assert categorically that the “Versailles Poland” is dciffi, and predict a fourth partition. It is openly threatened that Germany will march tb Warsaw and beyond, unless a settlement on Czechoslovakian lines is forthcoming. Even if the worst comes, the average German is convinced that it will be all over in four or five days. His viewpoint coincides with the headlines in the “Boersen Zeitung”—“London puzzled and afraid— Recognition of defeat.” The Press has made Germans believe that Russia will now stand shoulder to shoulder with Germany, and actually join in grabbing Polish territory. Stories of Poland’s bestial treatment of Germans continue. The newspapers unanimously declare that Germany has resumed Bismarck’s foreign policy of friendship with Russia, which the Kaiser Wilhelm imprudently destroyed. ' Field-Marshal Goering’s “National Zeitung” ominously declares that Hen von Ribbentrop’s discussions in Moscow will deal with the division of mutual spheres of influence, which is accepted as proof that a partition of Poland is planned. “Der Lokal Anzeiger” says Poland is now completely subordinated and will have to accept whatever Russia and Germany dictate.

CONCENTRATION COMPLETED (Red. August 24, 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN, August 23. The final concentration of troops has been completed. The last reservists, who would be called up in the event of war, have received their papers. ' From the morning of August 24, all air-raid wardens ■will be on permanent day and night duty. AIR TRAFFIC PROHIBITED. BERLIN, August. 23. German's entire eastern frontier on ; both sides of the Polish Corridor, is included in the huge area prohibited . to aeroplanes from six o’clock to-night until 8 p.m. on August 26. Trains from Germany are crowded ; with British and French subjects and ] other foreigners. 1 ■ • 1 POLISH BORDER TENSION. I —— ' - 1 . PRAGUE, August 23. : The atmosphere on the frontier of Poland and Slovakia is reported'to be most tense. Anti-Polish feeling among the Czech and German populations is running ; high. Czech and German refugees have ar- ; rived constantly from Poland. Minor border incidents are occurring daily. DANZIG PREPARATIONS DANZIG, August 23. Military preparations have been accelerated. New trenches and.barbedwire entanglements have been established on the Western, frontier. ANTI-POLISH DEMONSTRATION. LONDON. August 23. The Budapest correspondent of “The Times” says Hungarians cannot reconcile their friendship with Germany and their hatred of Bolshevism. They are awaiting the reactions of the Westeri Powers to Herr von Ribbentrop s negotiations. The authorities fear an increase in the activities of the Hungarian Nazis. The Bratislava correspondent of “The Times” says a huge demonstration demanded the return to Slovakia of the Cavorina district, which Poland took in the Autumn. One hundred thousand people participated in the demonstration. ITiej wrecked two synagogues. The crowd also demonstrated before the Polish Consulate, which is heavily guarded. It is reported from Bucharest that political circles are perturbed because of Roumania’s alliance with Poland. The Foreign Minister (M. Gafencu) is consulting his advisers and foreign diplomats. The opinion is expiessed that the dilatoriness of the Western Powers in the Russian negotiations led to the Russian and German rapprochement. A message from Helsinki says observers are pessimistic, their main anxiety being that Russia and Germany may co-operatively threaten Finland’s independence. . ITALIAN PREDICTION. ROME, August 28. The Press is entirely dedicated to the Germans’ diplomatic coup, stating that it is the greatest blow in the face that British diplomacy has ever reCCIVGII. It is predicted that the Anglo-Turk-ish Pact and the Franco-Russian Pact will now be reduced to scraps of paper. CAUTION IN TURKEY LONDON, August 23. “The Times’s” Istanbul correspondent savs: The country has been surprised Tiy the Soviet-German pact. Turi key is cautious. She is determined to resist aggression, in accordance with i her pledge. Turkey is nevertheless ■ aware that the Western Powers’ prestige has suffered a blow from the pact. JAPANESE OPINIONS. TOKIO, August 23. Japan’s official spokesman asserted . that the anti-Comintern Pact is not affected by the Soviet-German pact.

Japanese officials are most reserved regarding the pact, but it has commonly been complained that Japan has been sold out. The paper “Asahi” predicts that the pact between the Soviet and Germany will prove shortlived and will merely be used by Germany to assist her to solve the Danzig issue.

The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman said that it was not able to interpret i’.io Russo-German pact. Japan, however. expected that Germany would yvol ide in it stipulations that would avoid any inconsistency with the antiComintern Pact. He did not think that the pact between Germany and the Soviet would affect Japan’s fixed policy to create a new order in Eastern Asia.

The Domei News Agency quotes a statement by the Japanese Foreign Minister that the pact with the Soviet is for Herr Hitler a masterstroke, enabling him to settle the Danzig issue while not contravening the anti-Comin-tern Pact, and not changing Japan’s Asia policy. DUTCH PILOTS CALLED UP. AMSTERDLAM, August 23. The majority of K.L.M. service pilots have been militarily called up. The K.L.M. Company is thus compelled to suspend seven of its foreign airlines. It is maintaining only the London, Berlin, Paris and Stockholm traffic. AU burgomasters at present on holiday have been recalled to their towns. Dr. Colijn has postponed his projected world tour. BRITISH SAILINGS CANCELLED. LONDON, August 23. Tyneside shipping firms have jointly cancelled the sailing of all vessels leaving for Germany and the Baltic ports. Vessels en route to Hamburg have been recalled. . The “Daily Express, pointing out signs of hope, says: Yesterday, Germany had over 500,000 tons of her best merchant ships on the high seas, or about to leave port. She had also 25 liners keeping their normal oceangoing schedules. During the Munich crisis all of the German liners were recalled home. INSURANCE RATES INCREASED (Recd. August 24, 11 a.m.) LONDON. August 23. The Institute of Underwriters has announced that an increased minimum war risk rate, for risks “outside the war risks cargo pool." will become operative on August 24. as follows: Baltic 30/- per .cent. Mediterranean, 35/-. Australia and New Zealand 15/out, 20/- home. German and Italian ships are excluded. They may be rated at the Underwriters’ discretion. The rates are lower than these of last September, and approximately equal to those applying during Italy’s annexation of Albania. PROHIBITED EXPORTS LONDON, August 23. A Board of Trade order forbids the export of metals, petrol, oil. rubber, and other material useful in wartime. In addition to the prohibition of exports, the Board of Trade has simultaneously suspended, until October 1, the validity of outstanding export licenses for war materials to foreign countries.