ARMY TREBLED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 99, 27 March 1939, Page 7

ARMY TREBLED.

SECRET MOBILISATION. WAR-TIME FRAMEWORK.

(Independent Cable Service). WARSAW, March 26.

Deeply alarmed at European developments, Poland has shelved consideration of a joint anti-aggression declaration and is devoting her whole attention to measures for her own defence.

Secret mobolisation is estimated to bring the strength of the army to 1,500,000 men, which is treble the normal strength, and provides a framework for a wartime force of 4,000,000. This move is not mentioned officially and Polish newspapers are forbidden to mention it. Polskazbrogna, the official organ of the War Office, says: “Poland understands the lesson of the Czech tragedy. We are ready for war, even with the strongest antagonist. Poland has no inferiority complex in relation to any of the big Powers. '‘She is terrified neither by the number of their regiments nor the technical armaments of any other Power. We believe in the strength of our own divisions and the fighting spirit of our men.” . . Other newspapers speak in similar strain. The same journal also indicates the Polish attitude to The proposed anti-aggression declaration. It says: “The Western democracies display indignation when trouble arises, but they retire quickly to their normal composure without producing any real change of method. Me cannot rely on mere indignation hut. must follow the policy of realism.” RESERVISTS CALLED UP. Reservists of the 1914-15 classes of specialists have been called up. It is reported that they are to bo used to strengthen the northern frontiers. Unconfirmed reports have been received of German-Polish fighting on the Slovak-Polish frontier at Bogumin, resulting in the retirement of the Germans. Tlu: incident, however, is not expected to lead to serious consequences. ARMY ENCOURAGED. LITHUANIA “NOT AFRAID.” KAUNAS, March 25. General Rastikis, Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Army, in a message of encouragement to the arm to-day° said: “We are not afraid for our independence. Should our, present soil he endangered or our independence attacked we will not relinquish it without a fight.”