BULLYING NAZI TACTICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21555, 18 January 1940, Page 7

BULLYING NAZI TACTICS

Sinking Of Dutch Vessel New Terrorism Is Likely British Official Wireless RUGBY, January 16. Tlie sinking of the Netherlands steamer Arendskerk is related by some commentators to the tension. ‘ which although somewhat relaxed, still persists in the Low Countries owing to the threatening situation on the Dutch and Belgian frontiers. There is a strong general belief that the underlying purpose of the German action at sea, no less than her bullying tactics on her land frontiers, is to terrorise small nations, if for no other reason than to keep them in a false state of alarm and possiblv attempt to force them to suspend commercial relations with the Allies. In the view of military experts in Britain, no single incident is wholly accountable for the frontier tension, but evidence from various quarters accumulated during the week-end has undoubtedly aroused anxiety. particularly in Holland. Certain features of the activities on the German side of the Dutch frontier, it is noted, bore a close resemblance to the elaborate scare manufactured by Germany last November. The increase in the number of divisions facing the Dutch frontier south of the Rhine and the remarkable activity in road-making were observed. Both were factors in the November crisis and in Belgium, warnings that a new crisis was impending led, as in Holland, to increased precautions. The sinking of the Arendskerk is regarded in some quarters as an event which may throw additional light on the Germans’ intentions. Threat to Neutrals The “Yorkshire Post,” after stating that the Arendskerk was on her way from Antwerp to South Africa, states: “This looks rather like a new move in Germany’s longstanding campaign of terrorisation against her neutral neighbours. Our military correspondent suggests that this campaign is aimed at building up a system of Continental exchange. Under German orders neutrals are to forgo their seaborne trade and consent to serve as suppliers of Germany’s economic needs by land. Hitler hopes, perhaps, bv this means, to reach a position which would enable him to laugh at th? British blockade, and so once more to suggest a means of continuing the war. He may well be reluctant still to engage in a “blitzkreig” against the Allies together, or even separately. If he does start a campaign now against Holland or Belgium he will encounter a resistance resolute and prepared. “The task of Britain and France during this period of renewed tension is to take all the necessary precautions and then to stand quietly on guard, neither ignoring Hitler’s threats nor playing into his hands by nervously taking them at the face value.” NAZIS DESPERATE United Press Association— By Electrie Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 17. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. Details of the attacks on lightships refute the allegation that they are posts for warning the coast defence against raiders. For fear of provoking further attacks Lightship 87 did not use her radio when attacked by a bomber. Lightship 85 wirelessed the SOS only after being bombed, whereupon the ’planes again attacked. The William Ivey, one of the vessels sunk during the week, was a small North Sea trawler. After being machine-gunned and bombed at dusk by a German aeroplane which flew so low that it almost touched the mast, the crew of the trawler took to the boats, and were picked up six hour? later by another trawler. By way of excuse, the German News Agency describes the vessel as being “used by the British Admiralty as an outpost boat.” There is no truth whatever in this statement. Naval circles in London point out that the principal event last week m the war at sea was the attack on unarmed fishing ships and a lighthouse ship. When the U-boats’ campaign failed. Germany had adopted other methods to starve out Britain. First they laid magnetic mines—perfectly legal weapon, had they been placed in position in a legal way—but the Germans failed to notify the position of such mines, which resulted in many losses to neutral as well as Allied shipping. Later they directly attacked shipping within Norwegian territorial waters. Next they opened a violent attack on unarmed fishing vessels, and finally they attacked a lightship. The whole world now recognises that the German methods are becoming more and more desperate, and more and more barbaric.