THREAT TO SIEGFRIED LINE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 7

THREAT TO SIEGFRIED LINE

QUIET PERIOD ON WEST FRONT

NAZI LEADERS CONFER IN BERLIN

HITLER SUMMONS SPECIAL ASSEMBLY

TESTING REACTION TO SACRIFICES

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 23, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 22

A message from Paris quotes a radio announcement to-d«ij stating that the Rhine is still rising, further threatening the Siegfried Line. A French Army communique states that the night, was moderately quiet on the front as a whole. The morning communique issued by the French General Headquarters yesterday stated: “The night has been quiet. Patrols have been active and there has been harassing fire by artillery.” ■

A communique issued in Berlin yesterday by the German High Command stated that there had been livelier artillery, scouting and troop activity on several sectors of the W ostern Front in the border region between the Moselle and Saarbrueken. The enemy evacuated the Warndt Forest region with the exception of two hills close to the border. Other parts of the Western Front were quiet, except for minor disturbances by artillery fire. Important Nazi Consultations. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press states that Herr Hitler and the German Ambassador to Turkey. Herr von 'Papen, met in conference yesterday. Hen* Hitler ordered all Nazi district leaders to proceed to Berlin for important consultations to-day.

The Berlin correspondent of the Amsterdam paper, Telegraaf, says that although specific reasons are not given, Herr Hitler’s summoning of the state governors and district leaders to a conference indicated that Herr Hitler is confronting them with \yar decisions of the" utmost importance. A conference was held all yesterday and was continued to-day. It is recalled that a somewhat similar gathering was held a few days before the Polish campaign.

The Telegraaf’s correspondent states that official circles in Berlin declare there is no further possibility of another peace campaign after the last offer was rejected so abruptly. If Herr Hitler receives assurances that the German people will not react unfavourably to the prospect of the terrific sacrifices involved in an offensive on the Western Front, then a large-scale attack may be expected in the immediate future. ' Four Hypotheses Advanced

The military correspondent of the New York Times in Paris, Mr. Cl. 11. Archambault, states that four hypotheses are advanced in dealing with the failure of the Germans to continue the operations on October 16. They are : (1) Another peace offensive is being prepared, directed at separating Britain and France, based on Berlin diplomatic action and the phraseology of the German communique reviewing the military operations. It is rumoured that Herr Hitler, as the author, regards it as a proclamation to the French nation. The references to the modest proportions of the campaign and the fact that. Germans have not crossed the frontier are interpreted as implying that a sort of truce exists which could be more dearly defined through conversations. (2) The attack on October 16 was a diversion while preparations are being made elsewhere. The activity on the Moselle seel or and the evacuation of villages on the Luxembourg border are quoted in this connection. (3) The German realisation of Ihe strength, of .the French line.resistance and (4) Bad weather.