SAAR FACTORS

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1934, Page 5

SAAR FACTORS

THE BRITISH FORCES. SIR A, GODLEY’S OPINION. [Per Press Association. — Copyright .] INVERCARGILL, This Day. Asked yesterday if he could offer any comment on the situation in the Saar, General Sir Alexander Godley, who was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on the Rhine from 1922 to 1924, said he 'was not really closely in touch enough with the issues there to discuss them in detail.

“I do think, however,” Sir Alexander remarked, “that the presence of British troops in the Saar is the best augury for a just and satisfactory solution of the question being arrived at. The record of the British Army on the Rhine, both at Cologne and Wiesbaden, with regard to its dealings with both Germans and French and the good feeling which the British Army left behind at these places, will, I am sure, be a very important factor in the Saar.”

COMPLETE ISOLATION. RESTRICTIONS IRKSOME. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 27. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Saarbrucken correspondent says; “The new passport regulations are so strict that the Saar is cut off from the remainder of Europe. “Only journalists and other visitors that can prove that they are on legitimate business' are allowed to visit the territory. “The local population is taking with an ill-grace the restrictions of its accustomed liberties of using wine in beer halls until 4 o’clock in the morning. “All parties are required to conform o the midnight curfew, which was enforced to prevent the possibility of political incidents in the “small hours,” such as previously occurred frequently. “Mr Geoffrey Knox, the Australian, who is President of the League of Nations Governing Commission in the Saar, presented Christmas gifts to 2000 poor children in the territory.” A British official wireless message slates that one of the British battalions in the Saar who ate Chi’istmas dinner in a local hotel, heard the King’s message through the kindness of the German owner, who provided a wireless set. All the British contingent observed Christmas in the traditional fashion and in the best of spirits. The East Lancashire Regiment was able to take turkeys and plum puddings all together, non-commissioned officers for once waiting on the men. The only difference was that on this occasion they drank German beer. The Essex Regiment had a church parade, an,d there was an inspection of the British troops, the Italian regiment, and the Netherlands contingent, by Mr Knox. A battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment, stationed on the outskirts of Saarbrucken today carried out its first long route march. The cheerful and friendly demeanour of the men and their bearing are reported to have made an excellent impression on the local population.