THOUSANDS ADDED TO BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 278, 24 November 1939, Page 8

THOUSANDS ADDED TO BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE

Allies Confidently Awaiting the Challenge WAR OF ENDURANCE '(British Official Wireless) (Received 23, 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 22. The War Minister, Mr L. Hore-Be-lisha, in a statement in the House of Commons on the progress of the war oi land described it as a fortress war. Referring to the fact that the Polish Army was now being resuscitated on friendly soil, he said that the cause which they were so resolute to vindicate had attracted like a magnet their country* men from all parts of the world. Since he had informed the House that Britain had 153,000 men in France, some thousands had followed them. “By the spring,” he added, “they will have been reinforced again by no inconsiderable armament.” So it would continue until the cause was won. Nearly a million men were under intensive training in Britain.

“Our defences by sea, land and air, and the batteries against aggression, were established by prevision, and th« provision of underground accommoda-

tion and closely-emplaced batteries of guns extends along 200 miles of frontier,” the Minister added. Whereas Germany had to defend 200 miles of frontier, France had to envisage the possibility of aggression by Germany along the 800 miles from the North Sea to the Alps. “We now share the task,” the Minister commented. “There are French troops in the British part of the line and British troop 3 in the French part. Their understanding and good relations are complete. “The sector at present allotted to the British Army, while not comparable with the major system of the Maginot

Line, was thus fortunately provided in advance with field works. The task which fell to our soldiers on their arrival was to add to and improve upon these, which they are undertaking with a will. An organisation of almost inconceivably great dimensions has been established. The food, clothing, equipment, correspondence and amusements

of the whole community are distributed over a distance of hundreds of miles. "In the initial stages, the British Expeditionary Force consumed 500 tons of petrol daily. Now that alternative bases have been established, additional locomotives will be imported and a permanent way laid. Still, it is a question of vehicles and more vehicles. We have already sent to France over 1000 tons of spare parts and accessories.” Mr. Hore-Bolisha revealed that, in addition to the military classes, more than 85,000 volunteers had been taken into the Army. It would have been impossible to complete the formations in France without the assistance of the Territorial Army, whose peacetime training had justified its generous sacrifice of leisure. The Territorials had reached France much earlier as compared with 1914. In order to win, the Minister declared, the enemy must break the Allied defences, on which an assault was awaited with confidence by Mars Gamelin. The Allied sea, land and air defences were safely covering the ceaseless preparations. The Maginot Line was a debt that free nations owed to France’s vindicated caution. The anti-aircraft and coast defences of Britain were continuously manned by personnel whose conditions of service were in many instances lonelier and harder than those of the men in France. “It is a war of endurance, a quality !or which the British are renowned,” Mr Hore-Belisha added. “Each day finds us stronger, but the passage of time has not had the same effect on ( the enemy’s economy. We can afford to choose our opportunity. Our strategy is predetermined; so is the Issue of this struggle.”

Balkans Agreed on Principle of Neutrality TERRITORIAL CLAIMS (By Telegraph—Vreas Assn.—Copyright.) (Received 23, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22. Authoritative quarters in Bucha- ' rest declare that Rumania is willing to assist in the formation of a neutral Balkan bloc provided that it does not entail frontier revision. The Bulgarian Premier, M. Kiosseivanov, in an interview published in ihe Athens newspaper Neahellas, said: “We certainly have territorial claims, but I do not believe a few kilometres of soil are worth bloodshed; consequently we seek a settlement of our problems by means of friendly agreements with our neighbours. We aim at the consolidation of peace. I have made our policy clear in Ankara, and Turkey and Greece have been convinced.” A Budapest message says that the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Count Csaky, declared: “We shall remain faithful to peace as long as our vital interests are not affected, but will fight to the last man if our inheritance is threatened. The Hungarian army will soon suffice to meet any demands in the present grave period.” He emphasised Hungary’s friendship with Italy, and cited German-Hungar-ian friendship. He said there were no differences between Hungary and Yugoslavia which could not be dissolved. Count Csaky sympathised with Bulgaria’s struggles, and warned Rumania that*she must co-operate in establishing friendly Danubian relations. A clash with Russia, he said, was inconceivable. Hungary’s attitude to Britain and France was unchanged, while an agreement with Slovakia might jlead to a real improvement.