GERMANS MASSING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 7

GERMANS MASSING

THE WESTERN FRONT Tanks And Heavy Artillery I LARGE-SCALE ATTACK EXPECTED iEy I’- 'graph Press Association —Copy right J Received Oct. 1.5, 6.50 p.m. PARIS, Oct. 14. Front-line despatches say that the Germans are massing tanks and heavy artillery between the Rhine and Moselle in sufficient numbers to launch an offensive. Experts interpret yesterday’s lull as meaning an imminent push. An Amsterdam message says that the Telegraafs Berlin correspondent states that the German Chancellery seems to be preparing for Hitlei- to take up his headquarters near the Siegfried Line, which is interpreted to portend an aggravation of the western situation. The inhabitants of Aachen, Dusseldorf, and other Rhineland cities have been ordered to prepare for evacuation. The French wireless announces that fog and rain are impeding operations on the West Front. The night was quiet except for reciprocal artillery action east of Moselle. GERMAN WAR STRENGTH PROBLEMS FOR THE REICH Received Oct. 15, 7.30 p.m NEW YORK, Oct.’ 14. The New York Times’ correspondent, Mr. G. H. Archambault, in a message from Paris, says the RhineMoselle situation is such that the question is not will the Germans engage in a general battle, but can they with reasonable hope of.success? The competent French reply is in the negative, and the reasons can be summarised as follows: Firstly, strategic. Because of the uncertainty of British and French action, the Germans initially blundered by attacking Poland, which was the weaker opponent, giving the stronger time to mobilise. A concentrated lightning attack against France, instead of Poland, might have altered the situation entirely. Now, instead of entering the West overwhelmingly superior, the day can be | sighted when the Germans may be inferior. Secondly, manpower. Hitherto the British and French losses have been negligible. It is believed that the German casualties in Poland represent a rifle strength of 12 divisions. The maximum force available on the Western Front is estimated at 100 divisions, apart from armoured cars, and the actual striking force 50 to 60 divisions, whereas the Kaiser had 120 initially. Thirdly, possible action zones. The possibilities of the offensive use of manpower are limited to attack on the Rhine-Moselle front, attack on the line between Lauterbourg and the Swiss front, or attack through the neutral countries, who are all mobilised stronger than in 1914. Mr. Archambault adds that a frontal attack on the Maginot Line would be most costly and probably inconclusive. The “blitzkrieg’’ was predicted on a preponderance of material, but the Polish campaign has reduced that preponderance. Also the proportion of German raw materials, coupled with transportation difficulties, leads technicians to estimate that each German combatant will require ten to twelve employed in the rear compared with the Allies five to seven. Fourthly, aviation. The French are most gratified at the excellence of their planes. The Curtiss and Morane are fully equal to the Messerschmidts. The latter plane's warlife is very brief and six replacements are needed annually. It is doubted whether Germany is in a position to maintain her strength. Her war needs are 6000 planes, estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 tons annually. It is doubted whether German stocks will stand the strain. Fifthly, transportation. The Reichsbahns reports a lamentable picture of dearth of rolling stock and unrepaired lines. NO M’JOR OPERATIONS? WEATHER NOT SUITABLE ( HECK TO NAZI AIRMEN [ British Official Wireless I Received Oct. 14, 5.5 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 13. [ Well-informed military opinion points out that it is getting very late in the year for major operations and low-flying attacks such as the German Air Force made in Poland will not now be possible. If there is a major German attack shortly it means Hitler cannot wait until the spring while at the same time the Allies can afford to wait while they are getting stronger all the time. An army officered for the main part by men who have risen from and | proved their worth in the ranks is the aim of the military authorities. BRITAIN READY GERMAN OFFENSIVE FORCES IN FRANCE I British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 13. “Germany is massing troops on the Western Front,” commented the Secretary of Wan, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha “but we are ready and confident for aiiy eventuality. The condition of the British Expeditionary Force is magnificent.” Mr. Hore-Belisha revealed that a French military expert described the Advertising can reduce selling costs and lessen the lime in which a product moves from factory to consumer.

transportation of the British Expeditionary Force to France without a single accident as one of the greatest of military feats, and the first victory for the Allies in the war. “It was an achievement about which not only the Germans, but also the French were ignorant,” said the Minister. I Regarding the question of many ial c:is in Britain who are anxious to join the British Army, Mr. HoreBelisha said: “Aliens in the United Kingdom can join the British Army. Any person resident in the United Kingdom could volunteer for service in the Army. When classes are called up we shall be glad to see in those classes any foreign resident in Britain who desires to be called up if his age is within the age of those classes, in that respect they will be treated exactly the same as British subjects. The door is open to all subjects naturally subject to control by the Home Office. While we make no restrictions as to nationality, we are not contemplating forming any foreign legion such as exists in France foi Poles and Czechs. In this war we are abolishing all distinctions in the Army. It is now one army.”