FRANCE ON ALERT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 13

FRANCE ON ALERT

MILITARY MEASURES RATIFICATION REPORTED NO MOBILISATION YET RESERVISTS' MOVEMENTS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Times Cable LONDON. Sept. 13 The French Cabinet considered immediate mobilisation, but it was decided to do nothing at present that could be interpreted as an excuse for accusing France of provocation, says the Paris correspondent of the Times. The withdrawal of Karslbad demands by the Sudetens is regarded by France as ominous in the extreme. French official circles are discussing the formation of an international brigade of British, French and Germans to maintain order in Czechoslovakia in a similar way to what was done in the Saar, says another message from the French capital. The Cabinet ratified the military and economic measures to be taken in the event of war.

The War Minister has forbidden the export of certain primary products. Customs officials at Lille have stopped exports of wool, metals, silks, cotton and other raw materials.

Public meetings dealing •with the international situation are banned in France. Thousands more reservists hare left for the frontier, apparently replacing troops who have been occupying the Maginot Line. The strike at the Marseilles docks has been settled. The 'workers are obtaining an eight-hour day.

The British Ambassador to France, Sir Eric Phipps, hurriedly left an opera performance at Paris to go to the War Ministry, where he conferred with the Prime Minister, M. Edouard Daladier, and the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ofßce.

HITLER'S SPEECH

FURTHER REACTIONS *

TENSION NOT RELAXED PRESS REFLECTS ANXIETY British Wireless RUGBY, Sept. 13 There has been no relaxation of tension as the result of the first study of Herr Hitler's speech, which is undergoing further examination by leading Ministers. It is generally recognised that there must be no slackening of vigilance. The press reflects continued anxiety in regard to the situation, which is displayed among the public generally no less than in informed circles. The Times says: "The object of the speech was apparently to put the onus of settlement on Czechoslovakia, although anything more than that Government can do within the structure of the present State could only be to place the German minority in a highly privileged position and accord to it the power to influence the policy out of all proportion to its numbers. "Herr Hitler spoke of 7,000,000 Czechs torturing 3,500,000 Germans — an absurd perversion of the truth which can hardly have deceived his own docile, devoted audience. He even explained that there was a desire to annihilate them. It is lamentable, indeed, that the head of a great country like Germany should talk such nonsense." The Daily Telegraph says: "No word of the frenzied speech can be regarded as helpful to peace. Respite is afforded from the immediate danger of war, but it is a disagreeable thought that for possibly months to come Europe is to be kept in full tension awaiting the moment when Herr Hitler may approve or disapprove the outcome of negotiations from . which he demands self-determination for Sudeten Germans. That is a situation full of every kind of danger."

DEFENCE MEASURES

SPEEDING-UP PROCESS

CANADIAN PRECAUTIONS OTTAWA. Sept. 13 In connection with the speeding-up of Canada's defence organisation, the Government announces that MajorGeneral T. V. Anderson, now in England, who will become Chief of the General Staff in 1939, is to assume command immediately. The reorganisation and extension of the Air Force and the Navy have been completed, and Army reconstruction is under way. A message from Kitchener, Ontario, says the police in that GermanCanadian city (called Berlin in prewar days) to-day prohibited the display of photographs of Herr Hitler and swastika flags.

Commenting on Herr Hitler's speech, the Toronto Telegram says it is the most ominous development yet and the outlook is indeed black. The Toronto Star says the democracies have gained by the demonstration of united firmness.

The Toronto Globe and Mail says Herr Hitler is running a bluff, but it must not be assumed that he will back down.

The Ottawa Citizen states that the declaration that Herr Hitler is ready to take all risks is not an empty threat. He will continue his disruptive agencies designed to weaken the democracies.

The Vancouver Sun says the speech was dangerous as it revealed an aim to, divide the world into races rather than into countries.

ARMED SUDETENS

GENDARMERIE BESIEGED (Received September 15, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 14 Czech troops yesterday surrounded the Sudeten town of Schwaderbach. where 1000 Sudetens, many of them armed, had besieged the gendarmerie, says the Prague correspondent of the British United Press.

By special arrangement Reuter's world service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation of the oversea intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand ure reserved." Such of the cable news cn this page as Is so headed has appeared in the Times and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those ot the Timei unless expressly stated to be so.