THE WAR POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1939, Page 5

THE WAR POSITION

A REVIEW GERMAN MOVE EXPECTED. (United Press Association —By Electrif Telegraph—Copyright). NEW YORK, September 24.' The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times” says that after the first three weeks of the war, a stocktaking indicates that a German military move is now to be expected. The Allies argue that the course of events has modified early Anglo-French strategic conceptions. The most urgent consideration in the early strategic position was to relieve the Ger-i man pressure on Poland, by taking the initiative on the Western Front. It was soon realised, however, to quote a French spokesman, that “the Poles had not chosen the course oi prudence.” It became evident that even large scale operations on the West Front would not retrieve the situation in Poland. The Russian intervention there has settled that point conclusively. The correspondent continues : There is no likelihood of the East Front developing in another form than that existing at present; although the Soviet policy is obscure, and there may be a surprise. Consequently, the time factor is one of the most important. Both official and semi-official Allied declarations insist that France and Britain must refrain from engaging in any offensives. They say time favours the Allies. The correspondent says: A short war was a. possibility earlier, but the probability now is that there will be a long war, wherein the Allies will be setting siege to Germany. They are arguing that the Germans cannot be any better prepared to fight than when they attacked Poland. Therefore, if the Germans fear a long war, they must endeavour to obtain an early ending by some important move. But their choice in this is limited. Either they must break the Maginot Line, *or else outflank the Alaginot Line through an attack by way of neutral territory. This would not improve the German position internationally. The Maginot Line is reachable only by attacking the French in established positions of the -French’s own choosing. ” RADIO PEACE TALK. NEW YORK, September 24. A German official broadcast, which was intercepted in New York, declared: With a redrafting of Poland’s frontiers, the Reich lias accomplished the war aims of Germany. The war' is over as far as German aspirations are concerned. The broadcast added: “England and France had not a real cause for war. Germany had no quarrel with England or France.” The*above radio declaration is described bv the “New York Times” as being “not unlike an unofficial proposal for peace.” It occupied the major part of fifteen minutes in the English language form of the broadcast. FRENCH SARCASM. PARIS, September 25. The paper “Figaro” warns Frenchmen to carry gas-masks so as to protect themselves against Germany’s “secret weapon,” namely poison gas propaganda.