FRONTIERS CLOSED

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1934, Page 5

FRONTIERS CLOSED

NO ADMISSION TO SAAR SEPARATED FROM EUROPE STRICT MEASURES TAKEN TROOPS KEEP CHRISTMAS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Dec. 27. The Saar frontiers were closed to-day and until after the plebiscite on January 13 only those foreigners will be admitted to the territory whose passports have been specially visaed. As a precautionary measure all cafes and such establishments must from today close at midnight. The Daily Telegraph’s Saarbrucken correspondent says the new passport regulations are so strict that the Saar is cut off from the remainder of Europe. Only journalists and other visitors on legitimate business are allowed to visit the territory. The local population is taking with ill-grace the restriction on their accustomed liberties of using wine and beer halls until four in the morning. All parties are required to conform to the midnight curfew, which is enforced to prevent the possibility of political incidents in the small hours, which previously frequently occurred. The men of one of the British battalions in the Saar, who ate their Christmas dinner in a Saarbrucken hotel, heard the King’s Christmas Day Empire message through the kindness of a German owner who provided a wireless set. All the British contingent . celebrated Christmas in traditional fashion and in the best spirits. The East Lancashire Regiment was able to take its turkeys and plum puddings all together, the non-commissioned officers, for once in the year, waiting on the men. The only difference was that on this occasion they drank German instead of English beer. The Essex Regiment had a church parade and there was an inspection of the British troops, the Italian regiment and the Netherlands contingent by Mr. George G. Knox, president of the Governing Commission. A battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment, stationed on the outskirts of Saarbrucken, to-day carried out the first long route march. The cheerful and friendly demeanour of the men and their bearing is reported to have made an excellent impression on the local population. Mr. Knox has made a Christmas presentation to 2000 poor children in the Saar.