BIG MOVEMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 11

BIG MOVEMENTS

NORTH SEA COASTAL AREAS aircraft and materials FRANCO-SWISS BORDER; ACTIVITY ' * v . _ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright . . " (Received October 27. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct, 27 • 'An interruption of telephone communication has occurred between Germany and neutral countries, apparently in an attempt to hide big movements of troops, says Reuter's Paris correspondent, jt is understood that the imposition of a military censorship in Germany caused the interruption. Reports from Holland state that the Germans are heavily massing materials, troops and aeroplanes in the North Sea coastal districts from Emden to the mouth of the Elbe. Switzerland is one of the countries cut off from Germany by telephone, and reports from Zurich say that big concentrations of Germans have occurred near the Franco-Swiss border. Isolated from Several Countries An earlier report said that all telephone communication between Germany and Holland, Belgium and the Scandinavian countries was suspended, although communication by teleprinter between Germany and Holland was continuing. Telephone communication between Germany and Holland was resumed after tome hours. Hitler had another conference with his generals yesterday. The meeting followed a conference with Goering and leading Air Force officers. On the Western Front French scouting parties raided the German lines through snow, sleet and heavy rain, seeking prisoners for information regarding the disposition of the German main forces. Otherwise there has been little activity. A communique last night stated: "There were three encounters between contact units, and artillery action on both sides at various points." ; A German High Command communique stated: "The enemy tried to recapture a hill west of Voelkingen an<d attacked in strength, but one battalion collapsed in French territory under our fire. Otherwise there is no activity." .. The French communique this morning stated that there was local activity by reconnaissance units last night. Enemy Losses in Abortive Attack The official commentator in Paris revealed that the enemy losses in the abortive attack on October 16-17 are estimated at between 2000 and 3000. A well-informed source states that trainloads of wounded Germans passed through Trier. In the course of his speech in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, said that during the past week there had been no operations of importance on the Western Front, states the British official wireless. Minor adjustments of positions resulted in the French and German forces being now on the line of the common frontier. The steady stream of reinforcements and reserves, of material for the British Expeditionary Force continued, and the defences in the British sector were being continually strengthened..