FRENCH MOBILISATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1939, Page 7

FRENCH MOBILISATION

TWO MILUON UNDER ARMS TROOPS RUSHED TO FRONTIER [by CABLE PRESS ASSN. COPYRIGHT.] (Reed. August 25, 11.15 a.m.) PARIS, August 24. Cabinet has unanimously approved all M. Daladier’s measures. Mobilisation conitnues. A further class, involving 150,000 men, was called up this morning. Three more classes would be considered for general mobilisation, which is expected within 24 hours. It is estimated that 2,000 000 will be under arms before night. Special trains are rushing troops from the Paris stations, almost as fast as they pour in. Many are forced to walk to the stations, owing to the sud'den shortage of the city’s taxis and buses, 60 per cent, of which the Government has requisitioned.

The absence of men in the streets is becoming more marked. Many families have beann to evacuate the city. All long-distance telephones and telegraphs* are reserved for military use. SERVICES ON WAR FOOTING. LONDON, August 24. Paris . remains calm. The British Associated Press, however, says: France woke up to-day believing that a second World War is almost certain before the week-end. Well-informed diplomatic circles are inclined to share this belief. French troops have begun to move to the frontiers. All of the French services are quietly being placed on a war footing. In addition there was, overnight, an army mobilisation of several classes. The French Government issued a midnight decree, under which it has assumed the right to requisition property for national, needs. Posters informing the public of this decision greeted the early workers in the Paris streets to-day. Orders have also been issued to the police throughout the country to instruct harvesters to get in the crops as soon as possible, no matter whether they are wet or dry. The Ministry of Public Works has invited everyone whose presence is not indispensable in Paris, to use the railways to leave the city.