NAZIS READY IN OCTOBER

Southland Times, Issue 23998, 13 December 1939, Page 7

NAZIS READY IN OCTOBER

ALLIED TROOPS WERE PREPARED DISPOSITIONS MADE BY GENERALS ANY ATTACK AWAITED WITH CONFIDENCE (By Radio—l.ls a.m.) LONDON, December 12. The October preparations for a German offensive on the Western Front are discussed in a message from the Allied Commander-in-Chief, General Marie Gamelin, to the British Commander, General Lord Gort. “In an order dated October 14 I ordered you to prepare for a general offensive which was then thought to be imminent,” says General Gamelin. “Operations were started on October 16, but our dispositions spoiled these. Since then the enemy preparations have increased, hut we are waiting with confidence.” Military sources report great German patrol activity, notably in the section of the line which the British have taken over. Commentators stated that the British soldiers had received their bap-

tism of artillery fire and participated in French patrol activity. The French' advanced posts repulsed the raiding Germans with hand grenades, capturing some.

The British Expeditionary Force headquarters in France have issued the King’s message to General Lord Gort, Commander-in-Chief, which is published as an Order of the Day. It says:

It has given me the greatest pleasure to visit the troops under your command in, France. The days spent among them have been full of interest and have enabled me to see something of the conditions under which they are living and the work in which they are engaged. I am satisfied that the British soldier of today is at least equal to his predecessors both in efficiency and spirit. I send my best wishes to all ranks of the British Expeditionary Force and assure them of the complete and unfailing confidence placed in them by their fellow Country-

men.” The French night communique states: “There was very reduced activity on the front throughout the day.”

German troop movements are reported to be increasing on the left bank of the river Sure, on the Luxemburg frontier. The German High Command visited the district, from which villagers have been ordered to evacuate.

Messages from the Belgian-German frontier report many cases of diphtheria among the German troops. For the first time during the war German and French troops held a skirmish near the Swiss frontier. Advanced posts exchanged fire across the Rhine.

A German communique issued in Berlin says thht there was light artillery fire on some parts of the western front; otherwise it was quiet.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO GOVERNMENT

SUM OF £lOO,OOO FROM SOUTH AFRICA

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, December 11. The Dominions Secretary, Mr R. A. Eden, has acknowledged on behalf of the Government numerous Christmas gifts, including one of £lOO,OOO which has been handed over at a ceremony in Johannesburg to the United Kingdom Commissioner in South Africa by the chairman of the National Committee of South African Mayors’ Fund, whose objective is to raise £1,000,000 for war objectives. • “It has been a real encouragement to the people of Britain to receive this welcome mark of friendship of the Union of South Africa,” said Mr Eden.

U.S. TRAWLERS BOUGHT BY FRANCE

(Received December 12, 9.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 11. The Coastguard has detained five trawlers purchased by France as minesweepers pending the Attorney-Gener-al’s ruling whether Germany is entitled to damages from the United States in the event of the vessels damaging German property. Three others sailed earlier.