SKILL IN WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23470, 6 October 1939, Page 7

SKILL IN WAR

PBAISE FOR FEENCH AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT ADVANCES CUNNINGLY MADE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 5, 5.5 p.m.) .. NEW YORK, Oct. 4 "The skill of the French in the art of war and the high-hearted courage of these millions of men of all ages and professions have impressed us," says Mr. P. J. Philip, special correspondent of the New York Times with the French armieß on the Western Front. "At present it is a matter of little advances into villages and woods of possible strategic importance, but with what extreme cunning these little advances are made! Every detail is studied in advance, every possibility is estimated and every move is pre-1 faced and accompanied by artillery fire j on a direct target. No Thought of Peace "The French Army is in the true sense a citizen army, with a spirit of fraternity and mutual respect among all ranks. Hitler's 'peace offensive' means nothing here. None is able even to grasp the possibility of acceptance. 'We have started now,' said a priest who has doffed his clerical garb for a uniform. 'We do not want to begin again in a few months' time.' "It is pathetic to see and hear the extent to which it is believed and hoped the United States will enter the war, in which France's only interest is the defence of her patrimony and her liberty, partly derived from the American War of Independence. Reliance on Friends "As we entered a village hall where soldiers were entertaining visitors, everybody rose cheering 'Les Americains.' "It is not that these people are asking anything; they just expect that their friends will not leave them in the lurch, especially when they have so much outdistanced them in past years in the denunciation of the evils of Nazism. "They are more than satisfied that the Maginot Line can defend France. What they want from the United States is encouragement in the firm belief that they are fighting in a just cause." 1

. L MYSTERIOUS DELAY 5 TUKKO-RTJSSIAN TALKS * r SIGNS OF UNEASINESS c > SUPPORT OF ALLIES URGED t LONDON, Oct. 4 i The Turkish Foreign Minister, M. j Saracoglu, has received his Govern- I ! ment's reply to the proposals made by the Soviet in regard to a pact between Russia and Turkey, says a message from Moscow. He has conferred with the British Ambassador, Sir William Seeds, and with the French Charge d'Affaires in Moscow. A despatch from Istanbul states that Turkish uneasiness, caused by the ; mysterious delay in M. Saracoglu's discussions in Moscow, is openly expressed in the press. Officially inspired newspapers say the Balkan States will not consent to the slightest sacrifice which would impair their dignity, honour and independence. One journal emphasises that staunch support by Turkey of the Franco-Brit-ish peace front is the sole means of escape from brutal invaders. The Polish Ambassador at Angora has been informed that Turkey does not recognise the partition of Poland. OUTPUT OF SHELLS INCREASED PRODUCTION BRITISH ARMAMENT FIRMS LAST WAR FIGURE EXCEEDED LONDON, Oct, 4 The Ministry of Supply states that: the present rate of production of shells is six times greater than during the most active period in the last war. Meanwhile the number of operators in shell production has been considerably reduced. An outstanding example of the change over of British industry from peace time to war time needs is shown by the efficiency with which engineering firms formerly producing a variety of peace time products are already able to concentrate wholly on armaments.

Typical is a Midlands factory until recently producing steel tubes, where

3.7 in. anti-aircraft shells are now being manufactured at a rate of more than 1,000,000 a year. Many similar factories are already in operation or being constructed for mass production of munitions in Britain and throughout the Empire. Industrial works now concerned with munitions production include textile machinery manufacturers, locomotive builders, manufacturers of mining ' machinery and motor parts, and even small seaside garages have been adapted to the production of light antiaircraft shells. POLISH GOVERNMENT recognition as legal British Wireless LONDON, Oct. 4 Referring in tho House of Lords to the fact that the Polish Government had been re-established on French soil, the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, said: "His Majesty's Government will, of course, recognise as legal the Polish Government so established, and 1 have no doubt that the Government will continue to preserve intact the spirit of Polish independence and Polish resistance."

EGYPT'S WAR MEASURES

LONDON, Oct. 1

The Egyptian Prime Minister, Ali Maher Pasha, told an extraordinary meeting of Parliament that Egypt had been guided by the requirements of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty in all her war measures.