PRELIMINARY MANŒUVRING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23907, 7 September 1939, Page 9

PRELIMINARY MANŒUVRING

FRENCH AND GERMAN TROOPS POSITION ON WESTERN FRONT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept, 5. The United Press Paris cor-respondent says an official communication stated that an engagement, understood to be the preliminary manoeuvring of advance French and German troops, has begun on the western front. The communication did not indicate any real fighting up to 3.45 p.m. (Paris time). The Paris correspondent of the United Press of America says it is officially announced that the French forces contacted the Germans and penetrated German territory. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America states that an official communication stated: “ Until 9 a.m. not a single shot was fired on the western front, and there were no air raids except by the British at Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven.” A Paris war communication states:" 11 Operations by all the land, sea, and air forces are proceeding normaly.” The British United Press Paris correspondent reports that fighting is proceeding in German territory on both sides of the Corridor. The Poles pushed a powerful force of infantry and cavalry across the western border, due west of Gdynia. FRENCH PRESSURE INCREASED The ; Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of America says the left wing of the French Army has increased the pressure on the German northern flank along a 100-mile front. An army communication states that 11 our troops are in contact everywhere along the frontier between the Rhine and the Moselle.” The main attack was southward at Burgundy Gate, where an artillery barrage is being concentrated. 1 . The Paris correspondent of the New York Times states: 11 The surmise is fully warranted that the long and relatively narrow tract between the Magipot line and the west wall has already become a sort of no man’s land, pounded with shells of all calibres from both sides.” It is believed that the Germans are meeting with such resistance in Poland that they will be compelled henceforth to act methodically. The main armies on both fronts are not likely to come to grips for some time. , 1 ■ • > ' The Paris correspondent" of the Associated Press of America states that several planes, presumably German, flew over the city at 3.14 a.m. They were met by anti-aircraft fire, and flares were sent, aloft. Explosions were not heard in the centre of the city. NAZI RADIO BITTERNESS ' A German radio station declares that the nation acclaims Hitler’s courage in visiting the eastern frontier, showing that he has assumed responsibility for his actions and is ready to share the risks with his officers and men. The radio announcer ask§di 11 Where • is Churchill, Eden, Duff-Cooper, Amery, and the other Fleet street ' scribes, lavishly spilling the blood of millions on paper.” He described the Ministry of as weltluegenzentral (world lies centre), and denied that Polish planes had bombed Berlin or that regular troops had used parachutes to land behind the eastern:;, front. It was suggested that the parachutists were pilots escaping from damaged planes.

THE GERMAN PEOPLE NO DESIRE FOR WAR LONDON, Sept. 5. The Independent Labour Party announced that it had- received a declaration from the Independent Socialists of Germany that the masses of the German people “do not want this war. This war is not our war. This fight is not our fight, and we ask you, in the midst of death and destruction, not to forget the ideals for which we have died and have suffered torture.” “We protested in our illegal pamphlets, spread even among fortification workers watched by the Gestapo, against the occupation of Austria and the annexation of Czechoslovakia, and against Hitler’s policy of aggi’ession.” JAPANESE NEUTRALITY THE POWERS NOTIFIED TOKIO, Sept. 5. The Foreign Office has formally notified the belligerents and the United States of Japanese neutrality. AMERICAN NEUTRALITY NO CONVOYS FOR SHIPS WASHINGTON, Sept. 5. President Roosevelt signed the proclamation of neutrality. The President stated at a press conference that American ships would not be convoyed on the grounds that it was safer for Americans to travel on their own ships identified as advised by the Maritime Commission. The United States shipmasters have been advised by the commission not to black out, not to zigzag, and to paint the American flag on each side and on the fore and aft hatches. They must also keep the flag flying with a spotlight on it during the night. President Roosevelt’s neutrality proclamation describes the war as between Germany and Britain, France, Poland, India, Australia, and New Zealand. It prohibits United States nationals or alien residents from enlisting or going abroad with the intention of enlisting, the fitting up of a ship or army for a belligerent, the increasr ing of the armaments of any belligerent warship within United States waters, or the despatching of a ship carrying arms or munitions to warships. The proclamation adds that the use by belligerents of United States waters to prepare hostile operations or as observation posts will be regarded as unfriendly and offensive to isolation and neutrality. Seventeen unneutral acts are listed. These are prohibited and are nunishable. Belligerents entering the United States ports must leave within 24 hours, taking only sufficient fuel and food to reach their nearest home port.

BELGIAN GOVERNMENT FULL POWERS FOR KING IN WAR TIME BRUSSELS, Sept. 6. (Received Sept. 7, at 1.30 a.m.) The Chamber of Deputies passed a Bill giving King Leopold full power to govern.in war time. BELGIUM’S NEUTRALITY BRUSSELS, Sept. 5. There were loud cheers in the Chamber of Deputies when, befora crowded benches on which there were many parliamentarians wearing uniform, M. Van Cauweleart, who was re-elected President of the Chamber, said: “ Neutrality does not oblige us to betray our conscience and refrain from giving homage to , the Pope, President Roosevelt and ; King Leopold, who desired to secure the triumph of peace and reason over brute force.” BRITISH PRIME MINISTER A MESSAGE TO FRANCE ■ NEW YORK, Sept. 5. The London correspondent of th* Associated Press says Mr Chamberlain telegraphed to M. Daladier: “At this time, when Britain and France are enjoying their comradeship in arms to resist aggression and defend the cause of honourable feeling among nations, I send you, and through you to the French people, the cordial greetings of the people of this country. Our hopes of peace, which we sought so strenuously to preserve, have 'been shattered by the wanton attack on Poland. Now side by side we both take up arms with the sure knowledge that no nations ever entered war in a more just cause. I am confident that the sacrifices which we are prepared to make will not be in vain, and that right will prevail.” M. DALADIER’S REPLY LONDON, Sept. 6. (Received Sept. 6, at 11.55 p.m.) M. Daladier, thanking Mr Chamberlain for his moving message, says: “ Our two nations know that we have done everything to preserve peace, and they are resolved, after aggression so brutal and unjust, and of which Poland had been the victim, to associate their efforts fraternally until victory is ours.” MR GANDHFSPEACEEFFORTS APPEAL TO HERR HITLER SIMLA, Sept. 6. - (Received Sept. 7, at 1 a.m.) Mr Gandhi revealed that he sen! a letter to Herr Hitler on July 23, in which he said: “You are the on# person in the v T orld able to prevent’ war, which may reduce humanity to savagery. I appeal to you to avoid war and settle your differences in other ways.”