REDUCED ACTIVITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1939, Page 5

REDUCED ACTIVITY

OPERATIONS ON WESTERN FRONT SNOW HINDERS ACTIVITIES. GERMAN RAIDS REPULSED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 28. The French official communique states: ‘'There was reduced activity of contact units on the front today.” Snow has been fallin gon the Western Front, hence the considerably-re-duced patrol activity. On the previous night a German raid resulted in sharp hand-to-hand fighting. Another raid on an outpost in the Saar region was easily repulsed. The ineffectiveness of the German raids in providing the High Command with information is indicated by a report from the German news agency. It claims that the German troops brought back valuable information, but adds that there was no sign of British troops in the very front lines. Nevertheless, the British troops are there, as the Germans would discover if they could capture the wounded they left, behind. MINE EXPLOSION SEVERAL SOLDIERS KILLED. PARIS, December 28. It is reported from Luxemburg that a German mine exploded near the ruins of the Schenger bridge, which was one of the two bridges on the Luxemburg frontier blown up yesterday. Germans were later seen removing the bodies of several soldiers. SWISS ARMY l-UUKItI UUrtr'S BEING EUKIVIEU. BUILDING UP DEFENCE BEFORE SPRING THAW. BERNE, December 29. The Swiss Army Commander-in-Chief, General Guisan, today ordered the creation of a fourth army corps of between 800,000 and 100.000 strong, with the object of buliding up the defences before the spring thaw. Thousands of men who hitherto were exempted are being again examined for service, while blinded persons are incorporated as anti-aircraft listeners. HOLLAND PREPARES LIABILITY FOR NON-MILITARY SERVICE. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) THE HAGUE, December 29. The Government has decreed that all citizens between the ages of 18 and 59 may' be called up for non-military duties in case of necessity. They must be ready to report at any time. Refusal ifc punishable by three months’ imprisonment. They may be employed in repairing roads and bridges, erecting or pulling down fortifications, constructing water courses, etc. The pay will be the same as in civilian life. SNOW & FOG OPERATIONS AT STANDSTILL. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) PARIS, December 29. A war communique states that there is nothing of importance to report. Snowfalls and fog have brought operations on the Western Front to a standstill. ARTILLERY FIRE REPORTED BY THE GERMANS. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) BERLIN, December 29. A war communique announces: "The Western Front is quiet except for slight harassing artillery fire from the enemy'. MAGINOT’S ASHES TRANSFER TO THE PANTHEON.. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) PARIS, December 29. The Paris Municipal Council has voted the transfer of the ashes of Andre Maginot to the Pantheon in recognition of his building the Maginot Line. “DOWN WITH HITLER” SIX HUNDRED BAVARIANS JOIN UP. WITH FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION. (Received This Day. 10.25 a.m.) PARIS, December 29. Shouting "Down with Hitler," six hundred Germans, mostly fugitive Bavarians interned in France departed to join the Foreign Legion. GERMAN PROTEST USE OF MANDATED LANDS FOR AVAR PURPOSES. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, December 29. The Government has protested to England and France, presumably through Sweden, against the use of mandated territories for war purposes.