DEFENCE OF DENMARK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19025, 27 May 1936, Page 13

DEFENCE OF DENMARK

RELYING UPON ENGLAND FEKLTNC! OF INSECURITY GATE TO THE BALTIC COPENHAGEN, April 12. A feeling ot insecurity is slowly taking possession ot the Daiusu people. Herr Hitler s occupation ot the Rbim zone was the beginning, and ins peats promises have not managed to reassurt Hie Danes.

German iitllueitee in I lie southern part of .Jutland, given hack to Denmark atie. the last war, js steadiiy growing. I.ate ly a German hi.nicer in this part of the country opened a hank for lending money on favourable conditions to any inhabitants who would promise to vote in Germany s favour at all elections and send their children to the local German school. The general opinion here is that Germany is extremely well informed as to conditions in Denmark, down to the last soldier and gun. The German peace note makes no men lion of Denmark. Opinions vary as tc wind- ibis may mean, but most people here realise that, being, disarmed to the point of danger, this country will in war time he completely exposed to its enemies. Military quarters say that Den mark could defend its frontiers and eapi tat for three days, but this only means that the country is still counting on assistance from England. DENMARK’S FRIEND

England is regarded as Denmark s true friend, but what is more, the Danes believe that England would never tolerate a German occupation of Denmark, a: this would mean the closing oi all communications with the. Baltic. On Ihc other hand, the weakness of the German Meet is such that this stop would he oi vital importance to Germany, as ils navy would he fully' occupied in the North Sea. The Kiel Canal is not to In reckoned with during war, as enemy ah craft could easily sink great vessels going through these narrow waters, and there by block the passage for all others. ‘ Danish people can only hope for peace but few think that war is far away* People open their daily paper filled wit! anxiety, but in Conservative quarter.the luipe is now growing that Denmark in spite of its Labour Government, evil in the near future join forces with Sweden. The Socialist Government hen has lately* entered upon a policy of re armament, realising that- disarmament- is a thing of the past, and that peace in the future can onlv he secured by suitable armaments all round.