GERMAN TROOPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 95, 21 March 1938, Page 10

GERMAN TROOPS

3.15 P.M. EDITION.

MOBILISATION ORDER. WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received March 21, 1.35 p.m. LONDON, March 20. The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent says that conclusive proof that Herr Hitler’s mobilisation order Tor the invasion of Austria must have been issued at midnight on March 10 and 19 to 20 hours before Germany admitted the movement • was ordered is provided in an article published in Die Wehrmacht, the German high command’s official organ, in an article based on an interview with LieutenantGeneral Guderian (Commandei-in-Chief of the German mechanised forces), who led the advance across the frontier. It thus effectively, disposes of the official German version contained in Baron von Neurath s Note to the British Ambassador, when Baron von Neurath, who, in the course of the Note claimed to be speaking “in the interests of truth, stated: “The question of the despatch of military and police forces from the Reich was first raised by Dr. Inquart’s telegram asking for assistance. This was received in Berlin on the evening of March 14. Proofs adduced from the article include the fact that the commanders of tank regiments under LieutenantGeneral Guderian’s command were touring the Rhine and Moselle and consequently hn.d to be suminonded. by telegraph, \vhile reserve officers also had to be summoned to join their regiments. Preparations were made with such speed that troops were ready to leave the garrisons nine hours after the receipt of their first orders, but they still had to reach the Austrian frontier. Thus it is clear that the arrangements were made while Dr Schuschnigg was still Chancellor of Austria and 19 to 20 hours before Dr Inquart’s telegram’ was despatched. Although the exact strength of the army corps is unknown the total foice poured into Austria approached 100,000.