The Wanganui Herald. (Published Daily.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1917. GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15128, 24 January 1917, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. (Published Daily.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1917. GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND.

The suggestion of an invasion of France through Switzerland has again been revived by the concentration of nearly half a million German troops on the Swiss frontier near Alsace-Lorraine, that a. German breach of neutrality is feared is evident by the calling Up of the Swiss reserves, and the intimation that all conditional leave to reservists is cancelled. This is a trying time for all neutrals, and it is no wonder that Switzerland gets a little nervous when so troops are concentrated at a danger spot. And she knows well from Belgium’s experience that it is wise to be prepared. Nobody doubts that the mere fact of a quite recent formal announcement, that she had no intention of infringing Swiss neutrality would not hold back Germany for one instant if she thought it would pay to strike at France through Switzerland. Switzerland’s (and the Allies’) best guarantee lies in Germany’s probable recognition of the fact that if the violation of Belgium did not damn her case with all the neutrals, a repetition of that act would hardly leave her a friend. And one may be sure that Germany, w»h,< always looks ahead, even if she cannot always see very straight, has her eyes on advantages to be got from having friends among the neutral States at and after the declaration of peace. From a purely military point of view it certainly would pay Germany to attack Switzerland—provided she could get through pretty easily, and in good condition, into France. She would have turned the Allies’ right wing; she would have got into position right behind their armies, below Alsace, and many things might happen. CoUld Germany get through, if she did make up her mind to try There isno doubt at all that the Swiss would fight like fury to stpp her. There is supposed to be a proGerman party in the Swiss army; as a matter of fact, there is a pro-German party in almost every army ; just ah the naval men of most countries are proBritish, for reasons that arc fairly obvious. But the Swiss would fight to defend their country, if it were invaded, all the same. Could they stop Germany, then? That would depend mainly on the measures of defence the'y are taking and have taken, and on the readiness of the Allies to back them up in force at once. If the German General Staff were convinced that a stroke through Switzerland would mean victory, no doubt that stroke would be struck. But it is not likely they would strike that way, ( unless they felt pretty certain of the consequences. The fact, however, must not be overlooked that the shortest way for the Allies to the Rhine is near the Alsation ftontier, and Germany may fear an attack in that quarter by combined French, Italian, and Portuguese forces. It would not be a difficult matter to transfer Italian, troops round the. Swiss frontier, and Portugal has strong forces available to assist the Allies. The concentration, therefore, of German forces, near Switzerland may be with a view to counteract a strong Allied attack., A German report hints as much, it says if General Foch thinks of forcing the Rhine he will find he is “butting his head against a stone wall.” It

is true that the Upper Rhine offers the easiest road into Germany, and that in the past Germany has been invaded by that road, and by concentrating there the Germans' show that they are apprehensive of French intentions. The German General Staff-' must be of the opinion that other parts of the frontier are strong enough to resist invasion, and that Upper Alsace is the only road into Germany.' It is to be hoped that they will keep to that belief., Be that as it may, the indications are that the Alsation frontier will play a prominent part in the 1917 campaign.