NAZI FORCES MASSING

Southland Times, Issue 24004, 20 December 1939, Page 7

NAZI FORCES MASSING

Army Near Neutral Frontiers CHRISTMAS LEAVE SUPPRESSED (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 19, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 19. The correspondent of The Daily Telegraph ,at Eupen (Belgium) says that the massing of German troops between the left bank of the Rhine and the Luxembourg, Belgian and Dutch frontiers continues, involving 20 army corps, each composed of two or three divisions partly augmented by troops from central Germany and Poland. The mechanized divisions along the Rhine have been largely reinforced and their firing power increased. Relations between ,the troops and the local civilians are unsatisfactory. Discontent is openly shown by the German troops because of the suppression of Christmas leave. The official French communique announced that there was a sharp engagement between the Saar and the Vosges. The French took prisoners. It was quiet elsewhere. The German communique states that artillery fire between the Moselle and the Pfaelzer Wood is more active. The Air Force carried out reconnaissance flights over east France and the North ScS The Allied Commander-in-Chief (General Marie Gamelin) conducted the British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) over a section of the Maginot Line. Mr Chamberlain inspected British bombers and fighters in camouflaged aerodromes. The French Prime Minister (M, Edouard Daladier) entertained Mr Chamberlain to dinner at the Quai d’Orsay, attended by 51 diplomatic guests.