MILLION MEN ON PARADE

Southland Times, Issue 23887, 4 August 1939, Page 7

MILLION MEN ON PARADE

Hitler Celebrates War Anniversary SECRET MOVES BY AIR FORCE Army Leader Alleges Encirclement (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, August 2. One million men in field grey paraded throughout Germany today, the twentyfifth anniversary of mobilization for the Great War. August 2 has hitherto been observed only as the anniversary of Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg’s death.

The Chief of the German General Staff (General Walther von Brauchitsch) and the Minister of Aviation (Field Marshal Herman Goering) issued special Orders of the Day to mark the anniversary of the Great War. They emphasized Germany’s will to peace but said that Germany’s military superiority and her determination to fight if war were forced on her would lead to victory.

General von Brauchitsch said that the same forces which forced war on Germany in 1914 were trying to encircle her now. Field Marshal Goering said: "I have done my best in the past years to make

the German air force the biggest and most powerful in the world. The air force stands ready today to carry out any of the Fuhrer’s orders with- lightning speed and with an unimaginable impact.” General von Brauchitsch’s proclamation says: “We are in a stronger position than in 1914 because experience has taught us what it means to lie defenceless at the mercy of in enemy full of hatred. The Fuhrer has given us a clear political aim for which we will fight. Unity of political and militaryleadership will ensure that the armed might of 80,000,000 persons will be thrown into a fight to the last man.” Germany’s celebrations were accompanied by most secret air manoeuvres, about which the greatest satisfaction is expressed. The rationing of petrol has already been enforced in Berlin and no one is allowed more than two and a-half gallons. The Kaiser in 1914 had a standing army of 700,000 compared with the 2,000,000 who will be called up by the end of August, but fully trained men are only 1,000,000 compared with 19 classes of trained reserves in 1914, totalling 7,500,000.

ITALIAN ARMY NEAR FRENCH FRONTIER

MUSSOLINI PILOTS OWN BOMBER

ROME, August 2.

The King of Italy and Italian, German and Spanish generals watched the army manoeuvres while Signor Mussolini roared overhead, piloting his own bomber. The forces were supposed to be operating against an enemy which had broken through the French frontier.

Dr Virginie Gayda, who is generally regarded as Signor Mussolini’s unofficial spokesman, says that the manoeuvres are necessary because of the manifestly aggressive British and French plans. The Minister of Propaganda (Signor Ansaldo) in an article in the newspaper Telegrafo, which is owned by the Foreign Minister (Count Galeazzo Ciano), says: “The enemy Italy has to prepare to fight is Britain.”