RHINE DEFENCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18960, 10 March 1936, Page 5

RHINE DEFENCES

BORDER FORTS

FRENCH TROOPS MOVE UP

WAR STRENGTH NOT USED

SURPRISE TO GERMANS

WORLD-WIDE HOSTILITY

(Elnc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.)

(Reed. March 10, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 9

A Paris report states that specially trained French troops are taking up positions on the formidable Maginot line of fortifications. The War Ministry, however, emphasises that they do not represent war strength. No troops had been brought to the Rhine from other parts of France. Regiments from the garrisons at Metz and Thionville have moved up to complete the manning of fortifications. All other troops in the vicinity of the Rhineland are still confined to barracks.' • ■

It is iio\v revealed that plans for the reoccupa'tion of the Rhineland were carried out with typical German' thoroughness, but observers are struck with the extreme youth of the soldiers, the average age being 20 and many being almost schoolboys.

The official spokesman at Berlin denounced France s intransigeance, declaring that Herr Hitler's offer was France's last big chance. "France can now have security as never before," he declared. OUTSIDE ARBITRATOR French newspapers say that well-in-formed quarters in Germany are surprised and dismayed at the world-wide disapproval of Hitler's move as they were placing their hopes in Britain as an outside arbitrator. At Warsaw, Poland ,has assured the French Ambassador that Poland is adhering to the Franco Polish alliance of 1921, under which she agrees to assist France if attacked.

The Polish Senate is considering a proposal for a rearmament loan of £20,000,000. The Manchester Guardian editorially emphasises Germany's disregard of M. Flandin's offer to submit the FrancoSoviet Pact to the Hague Court and her destruction of a treaty into which she freely entered.

The Manchester Guardian's Paris correspondent says: ' 'Naturally there is much wild talk, not excluding words of mobilisation and war. The feeling is most bitter, though this does not mean that French opinion at present favours marching into the Rhineland, but it is certain that Herr Hitler's action has brought the danger of war nearer. This latest piece of Attila diplomacy confirms the impression, long entertained, that Herr Hitler wants, above all, a free hand in the east and hegemony in eastern and central Europe, after which ho would have France at his mercy. STRATEGICAL ADVANTAGE The Manchester Guardian's diplomatic correspondent states the military significance of Herr Hitler's action lies in the enormous strategical advantage that control of the demilitarised zone gives Germany against France and favours any possible plan for an advance on Paris through the Dutch province of Limbourg, and through Belgium and Luxembourg. ""Herr Hitler has gone a long way on the road to realising what he declared in his book, 'Mein Kampf was one of the chief aims of German policy 'to overthrow France," continues the correspondent. "The French people are convinced that their continued existence depends on the attitude of Britain, which France is watching with really tragic concern.

A Vienna message states that apprehension is growing in Austria that the occupation of the Rhineland is a prelude to an invasion of Austria, especially as Italy is preoccupied with the war in Abyssinia.

TREATY OBLIGATIONS

VERSAILLES AND LOCARNO

DEMILITARISED ZONE

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

The articles of the Treaty of Versailles dealing with the demilitarisation of the Rhineland state:

Article 42. —Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortification cither on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west of a lino drawn 50 kilometres to the east of the Rhine.

Article 43. —In the area defined above, the maintenance and tho assembly cf armed forces, either permanently or temporarily, and military manoeuvres of any kind, as well as the upkeep of all permanent works for mobilisation, are in the same way forbidden. Article 44.—1 n case Germany violates in any manner whatever the provisions of Articles 42 and 43, she shall be iegarded as committing a hostile act against the Powers signatory of the present Treaty, and as calculated to disturb the peace of the world. The Locarno Treaty, which Germany has denounced, was signed on October 16, 1925, between Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Italy. Under it Germany, France and Belgium undertook to respect the inviolability of the German-Franco-Belgian frontiers. Germany, France and Belgium mutually undertook in no case to attack or invade each other, or resort to war against each other. The obligation not to make war in the future does not apply in the case of legitimate self-defence, or resistance to a violation of the Treaty of Versailles relative to the demilitarised zone of the Rhineland.

Germany, France and Belgium also pledged * themselves by particular Treaties of Arbitration to regulate all their differences by pacific methods, submitting them either to judges or to a commission of conciliation.

Great Britain and Italy guaranteed the execution of these obligations by the States concerned. Britain, however, would not accept any obligations toward protecting the eastern frontiers of Germany which march with Poland and Czechoslovakia.