GERMAN MENACE DISTURBS EUROPE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 February 1936, Page 7

GERMAN MENACE DISTURBS EUROPE.

Holland May Be Another Belgium. Alarm Over Warlike Preparations. Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. PARIS, Feb. 8. Madame Tabouis, writing in L’Oeuvre declares that Britain is disturbed at the reports of the increasing German armaments. It is believed Germany has three plans for expansion under consideration. The first is the Goering plan providing for an attack on Ukraine. The second contemplates expansion in Central Europe through Austria and Czechoslovakia, and the third an invasion of France via not only Belgium but Holland. Germany already has fifteen official aviation centres and 24 fields prepared for aeroplanes within 40 miles of the Dutch frontier. Large numbers of men from German labour camps are settled near Holland and roads have been constructed from Bremen to Holland enabling rapid invasion.

LONDON, Feb. 8. The Times is publishing a series of copyright articles dealing with the alarm in Holland over Germany’s preparations.

BRITAIN’S HUGE EXPENDITURE.

ANGLO-FRENCH-SOVIET ALLIANCE

GERMANY OUTMANOEUVRED

Received Sunday, Midnight. LONDON, Feb, 9,

According to the Observer’s diplomatic correspondent Britain’s increased defences on which all departments are working at full pressure are expected to necessitate an expenditure of between £300,000,000 and £400,000,000. Britain’s policy is based on the fact that Japan and Germany on whom the world’s peace obviously depends in the near future are non-Leaguers which defeats the Covenant’s aim of collective guarantee. Consequently until the League is again fully representative it cannot he regarded as a substitute for the old type of national defence.

The Weekly Dispatch says the defence plans will probably include the removal of Woolwich Arsenal and other factories convertible to war purposes to districts less open to aerial attack, while a separate department will organise the supply of munitions. It is possible moreover that one of the first steps will be increasing the naval personnel, three-quarters of whom are now abroad and the number of men in home ports less than at any previous period.

Tlie Observer’s Paris correspondent says M. Flandin reported to Cabinet on the week’s diplomatic conversations about which there is optimism owing to the indication of the general realisation of the German danger which Britain also appreciates as is proved by the improvement in Anglo-Russian feeling. It is believed Rumania and Yugoslavia confirmed their determination to co-operate with Britain and France and the League. Bulgaria and Turkey are also expected to join in.

Nevertheless Austria's independence is the keynote to the situation concerning which the ratification of the Soviet Pact is important as it may ensure Russian assistance to Austria through the League. Meanwhile the reports oi the increase in British defences are generally welcomed. A Berlin message says France’s expected ratification of the Soviet Pact is regarded as a tcavy oiuw to German foreign policy, spelling the 1 allure of Hitler’s superhuman efforts to prevent the western Powers’ rapprochnient with Russia. The German. Government has already prepared an official protest

to hurl at the Locarno Powers the day France ratifies the pact which

Germany holds to he directly contradictory to the spirit and letter of Lacarno.

The meeting of Kings and diplomats in Paris has deeply angered Germany, while the depression created when M. Litvinoff was warmly received in London is increased hy his reception in Paris,

Extreme Gravity of Situation BRITAIN AWAKE TO POSITION LONDON, Feb. S. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent states that owing to recent international developments the Government has decided to speed up British rearmament so as to enable the major part ,of the programme to be completed by 1939, necessitating a capital outlay of £300,000,000. Mr Anthony Eden, since his assumption of full responsibility for foreign policy, has been profoundly impressed by the grave deterioration of the international situation, and is now convinced that European peace cannot long be preserved unless Britain is placed in the most powerful position of defence as soon as possible. Japan’s policy is being watched equally as carefully as the huge growth in Gorman armaments. Moreover, Britain is paying attention to the belief which is persistent in Paris and Moscow 7 that Germany and Japan have agreed on mutual assistance and that Germany and Hungary arranged a similar pact last year, and also to the possibility that Italy, owing to her present plight, may arrive at an understanding with Germanv.

Reports persist that Signor Mussolim is organising several new classes of recruits with a view to their use in Europe and that Marshal Badoglio i?. being recalled to carry out arrangements.

France has asked Italy whether limitation of an oil embargo to a peacetime quota would be regarded as a military sanction, and Britain has asked Signor Grand! to point out to the Fascist Grand Council that such a sanction should not be regarded as a hostile act.

Germany’s Colossal Expenditure CAPITAL LEVY NEXT Received Su y, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 9. The News-Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent says Germany’s colossal armamen - -rogramme is swallowing up so ■ <rr that the imposition of a capita 1 levy to be devoted to tne financial demands of . ;.e armed . services is now being seriously ccnsmer' ’ A Berlin message states that butter is scarcer • ran ~-r, and ration cards have reappeared. Eggs are ■equally scarce.