RHINE VALLEY AFLAME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1939, Page 5

RHINE VALLEY AFLAME

Bombardment Along Eighty Mile Front

VEIL LIFTING ON GERMAN INTENTIONS Forces Concentrating on Swiss Frontier POSSIBLE GATEWAY OF INVASION (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) * NEW YORK, September 25. The “New York Times” Paris correspondent says that the Rhine Valley from Lauterburg to Basle sprang into flame yesterday. „ 4 The veil seems to be lifting’ on the German intentions. The following’ reports are outFirst: Along the 80-mile front, where till today not a single shot had been fired, the guns of the Maginot Line and the West Wall have been pounding for 24 hours on many P oints this front, which forms a right angle with the Moselle and Rhine River fronts. Its outworks actually line the banks of the Rhine. ' Secondly: It is semi-officially confirmed that “important” German forces have been concentrated on the Swiss frontier in the vicinity of Basle. Thirdly: German planes have been observing the Swiss border from Basle to Schafthstiiseii i Fourthly: The Nazi Propaganda Minister, Dr Goebbels, in repeating the denial that Germany intended to invade neutral countries, specifically mentioned Luxemburg, Belgium and Holland, but omitted Switzerland.

The correspondent Says that the Swiss conception of neutrality implies that in the event of an invasion Switzerland, without hesitation, will join her violator’s enemies. The importance of the Swiss border between Basle and Schaffhausen lies in the fact that there are 19 bridges in three groups over the Rhine—lo at Basle, three at \\ aidshut and six at Schaffhausen. The bridges at Basle lead into the J-ura region, which is well fortified, though the actual gateway, a narrow strip between Huningue and Basle (about five miles) is not included in the Mhginot Line because of the scrupulous French observance of the Treaty of Paris. The other bridges lead into the Saar Valley, giving access to Neuchatel and Geneva.

HAPPY RELATIONS

BRITISH TROOPS AND FRENCH HOSTS. BILLETS IN VILLAGES AND CASTLES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBV, September 25. According to “Eyewitness” attached to the British field forces “somewhere in France,” the first British guns to be placed for anti-faircraft purposes in France are the guardians of headquarters, “not a stone’s throw from where this ig" being written. So far there has not been a single alarm and the gunners have little to do but remain constantly on watch. This antiaircraft unit was among the first British troops to reach France.” In a later account, “Eyewitness” reports: “Today I visited some recent-ly-arrived British troops in their present quarters. Billeted in little villages, in farms and castles, the troops are living buried unobtrusively in the depths of the French countryside. So well are they distributed that you could almost drive through the whole area .without noticing any unusual concentration of troops.

“Everywhere I went men told me of the kindness of their French hosts. Equally the French pay very warm tributes to the conduct of the British. Headquarters are housed in schools, former convents, and other suitable buildings, in sunny market towns. Officers who fought in the last war remark on the fraternising between French and British troops as one of the most marked differences between 1914 and 1939.”

BRIDGE BLOWN UP

ON BELGIAN-LUXEMBOURG LINE. (Received This Day. 9.30 a.m.) BRUSSELS, September 26. A railway bridge at Stocken, near Arion, on the main line between Brussels and Luxembourg was blown up last night shortly after a train had passed. The cause is unknown. EVENT EXPLAINED. BLOWING UP OF BELGIAN MINES. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) BRUSSELS, September 26. It is now stated that the bridge explosion was due to the blowing up of Belgian military mines. AIR COMBATS LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) PARIS, September 26. The Germans brought down two French planes in air combats, but the German losses are believed to have been heavier. NEUTRAL BLOC UNDER MUSSOLINI’S LEADERSHIP. A HUNGARIAN FORECAST. ' (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) BUDAPEST, September 26. The formation of a neutral bloc in South-East Europe, under the leadership of Signor Mussolini, is forecast in the Hungarian Press.