FRENCH DEFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21492, 16 May 1933, Page 9

FRENCH DEFENCES

FRONTIER FORTRESSES GIRDLE NEARLY COMPLETE WAR FACTORIES BUSY NAZIS MAKE FORBIDDEN GUNS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 15, G. 15 p.m.) LONDON, May U The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says the traditional procession celebrated Joan of Arc's Day. The patriots who took part wcro impressed by a statement made by tho Prime Minister, M. Daladier, that tho girdle of Franco's eastern fortresses and fortified linos of almost impassable design were nearly complete. M. Daladier said that war factories were busily producing armaments and equipment for these fortresses in preference to offensive armaments, so as to ensure the adequacy of the national defences in any eventuality. The Daily Herald's diplomatic correspondent says the French General Staff is perturbed by the information that Germany for the past few months has been manufacturing six-inch howitzers at the Rhine metal works, Dusseldorf, although the type is prohibited by tho Treaty of Versailles. The Dusseldorf works are manned bj picked Nazis and no others aro allowed near the machine shops. The land frontiers of France extend over 1665 miles, of which 1246 guiles are along the Belgian, German, Swiss, and Italian frontiers and 419 along the Spanish frontier. France is in process of constructing a trench system of defence, based on the experiences of the Great War, along her eastern frontier between tho Rhine and Luxembourg. Behind this system are tho former German fortresses of Strassburg, Metz and Thionville, and the first-class fortresses of Verdun, Toul, Epinal and Belfort. " A huge belt of concrete is France's safeguard against invasion," declared M. Paul Bernier, Under-Secretary for Air, on October 7, 1932, after inspecting tho new French frontier defence system to be completed by 1934. " The fortifications are especially strong along the south-eastern frontier," said M. Bernier. " From Briancon to Nice our chain of fortresses and 'pill boxes' will withstand any attack, even from tho air."