GERMANS MAY TAKE ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 23991, 5 December 1939, Page 7

GERMANS MAY TAKE ACTION

Extending Theatre Of War CONJOINED MOVES BY ALLIES (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 4, 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 4. The correspondent of The New York Times, G. H. Archambault, in a message from Paris, comments that if the Allies cannot extend the war theatre by direct military action, their conjoined diplomatic and economic moves might lead the enemy to do so. It is in this light that events in Europe should now be regarded—in the Balkans as elsewhere. In this connection he emphasizes that the recent French reduction of army zones along the Italian and Swiss borders may have significance later. GERMAN SHIP SET ON FIRE DISCOVERY BY SOUTH AFRICAN AEROPLANE ' (Received December 4, 6.30 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, December 3. The German vessel Watussi, which was the first fruit of South Africa’s extensive unceasing coastal patrols, at first refused to reveal her identity or change her course. The aeroplane threatened her with bombs, whereupon the captain pleaded that there were passengers aboard. He changed his course only after two bombs had been dropped ahead, but soon after this dense smoke came from the ship. Ten boats put off, including women and children. A warship picked up the survivors while the ship blazed furiously. The Watussi’s crew, numbering 155, with 43 passengers, including 14 women and two children, was landed. None perished.

COMMUNICATIONS SQUADRON MANY USEFUL DUTIES CARRIED OUT’ (British Official Wireless) (Received December 4, 3.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 3. The Royal Air Force communications squadron plays an important, though perhaps little-known, part in the war. Besides flying Royalty, Cabinet Ministers and higher ranks on duty, it also, carried men summoned urgently home because of the illness or death of relations. It makes no difference between officers and men when dealing with compassionate cases. A recent example was when from one aircraft arriving in England there stepped out a general, an air commodore, two staff officers and a private. When space is available, these communications aircraft carry comforts to France—books, woollens, radio sets and many other things that make life in the field a little more comfortable. PAPAL APPEAL FOR PEACE PROBABLE ADDRESS To" - CONSISTORY ON DECEMBER 11 ROME, December 3. Vatican sources predict that the Pope will appeal in general terms for peace when he addresses the Consistory on December 11. There is no confirmation of the original German reports of a Papal Christmas truce proposal. It is added that his Holiness might suggest an armistice if he were assured beforehand that all the belligerent States would accept the suggestion. “OBVIOUSLY LIVING IN A MAD HOUSE” LONDON, December 3. “We obviously are living in a madhouse,” declares the well-known author, J. B. Priestley, who went on to advocate a federation of European States, including a democratic Germany, on the lines of the United States of America, with a central Government, one currency, no Customs barriers, one army, navy and air force, and one foreign policy, but with each nation in charge of its own domestic affairs. Professor Ernest Barker expresses the opinion that compulsory service

will become permanent and thinks that it will do good in levelling social classes, promoting discipline . and developing youth at a critical age. “There probably will be an armed force after the war,” he says. “Even if it were a federal army there would be less universalism and more Europeanism after the war. Salvation will not come either from Russia or America.”