FRENCH ARMY LEAVE STOPPED

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 5

FRENCH ARMY LEAVE STOPPED

FRONTIER ZONE PRECAUTIONS

(United Press Association.-By Electric. Telegraph.—Copyrights (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 7. The first tendency in France has been to appeal for calmness. Nevertheless all army leave has been stopped as a gesture against Germany’s move, and officers and men have been recalled by telegraph.

The move has qaused surprise and regret. A statement from Berlin that the German action was decided in agreement with Italy ‘is causing apprehension.

France’s fortifications are being manned and strengthened. Detachments of Mobile Guards have been sent •to reinforce the frontier police. These precautionary measures to protect the frontier are beipg taken tranquilly by the population at the frontier, who have been expecting Germans to re-enter the Rhineland all the week owing to German officers arriving in various towns to prepare accommodation.

Action by League.

Commentators expect that France at Geneva will ask the League for financial and economic ' sanctions against Germany under the Stresa resolution, wfcich was drafted after Germany’s reimposition of conscription, and which the League passed. This resolution provided that a committee representing Britain, Canada, China, Spain, France, Hungary, Turkey, Russia and Yugoslavia should propose measures to render the Covenant more effective for collective security. Especially was the committee to define economic and financial measures applicable to a State which endangered peace by unilateral, repudiation of international obligations.

It is considered that France will receive Britain’s support, in view of Mr Eden’s recent statement in the House of Commons, also as a counterpart to French support of Britain against Italy. The Soviet and the Little Entente will also support her. To Demand Evacuation. Also, it is believed that France intends to insist that Germany shall evacuate the Rhineland, in which she will demand the support of Britain, Italy and Belgium. u The . Paris newspapers generally condemn Germany’s “violation of the treaty” and declare that “Germany cannot be trusted.” The French have reoccupied their bridgehead at Kehl, which they evacuated under the Locarno Treaty. Thus French and German soldiers are again facing each other. The frontier zone, which France has strongly fortified, but is holding with skeleton troops, is being brought to full strength from the depots, although it has not been decided yet to call up the reserves or the new classes of conscripts.