BRITISH TROOPS IN ERANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 290, 8 December 1939, Page 7

BRITISH TROOPS IN ERANCE

INSPECTION BY KING LARGEST CONCENTRATION SINCE THE WAR (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Received Dec. 7, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 6. The largest concentration of troops in the British zone since the outbreak of war, began at dawn for the second day of the King's tour of the Western Front. Viscount Gort, Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force and the Duke of Gloucester again accompanied His Majesty. Thousands of men were assembled at the numerous points the King visited in the course of an 80 miles journey. The sky was clear and it seemed just the right type of weather to tempt enemy aircraft into the sky, and, for this reason, protective patrols circled overhead continually. The King covered several miles on foot. He saw the operation room of the Royal Air Force aerodrome and studied the way movements of hostile aircraft are recorded. At the invitation of the commanding officer, the King gave orders by telephone to patrol lighters which were in the air within 30 seconds. He spoke to a number of pilots, including one 24-years-old, who is credited witn* bringing down the first German machine in France. “A jolly good show,” the King remarked. His Majesty lunched with several French generals in an eighteenth century Chateau where Napoleon slept and where the Duke of Wellington had his headquarters. GERMAN ARMY POOR PHYSICALLY NOT SO WITH BRITAIN Received Dec. 7, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. Mr. Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for the Dominions, in the House of Commons, quoted a realiable authority as expressing the opinion that the German army physically was inferior to the army of 1914. The reverse was the case as far as Britain was concerned, Mr. Eden said. Splendid types had joined up to fight the Prussian spirit of military domination. Hundreds from New Zealand are going to Britain to join the Royal Navy, as they did in the last war, he said. ,