WESTERN FRONT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21051, 1 March 1940, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT

HAND=TO=HAND= FIGHT ACTIVITY OF PATROLS CLAIMS BY GERMANY r United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 1, 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 29 A communique states: “Patrol activities on the border line west from Merzig took several prisoners. Some enemy planes flew over North-west Germany on the night of February 27. Two flew via the Dutch-German frontier.” The news agency states: “There was fierce hand-to-hand fighting in the woods. Our infantry, which is specially well trained for close conflict, inflicted bloody loss. The enemy fought courageously, so there were also some lights wounds on our side. “Despite the intercession of enemy artillery our patrol returned at full strength.” PARIS, Feb. 29 A communique states that there was activity among the advance units west of the Vosges, with the troops tiring from casements. Germany’s Significant Moves The British United Press correspondent at Eupen says that beginning on March 15 the German authorities at Aachen will restrict the movements of frontier traffic. Dutch residents in Germany who are temporarily sojourning in Holland are reported to have been instructed to return to Germany not later than March 15 or their passes will be cancelled. Travellers from the Reich have revealed that German frontier positions have been strengthened. It is believed that the extension of the Siegfried Line is one reason for the increased control of the frontier traffic.

SACRIFICES IN FRANCE

PREPARING FOR RATIONING LIMITATION OF CONSUMPTION STATEMENT BY MINISTER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 1, 11.55 a.m.) PARIS, Feb. 29 The Government is not introducing immediately, although preparing food cards. The nation is confronted with three meatless days weekly. Pastrycooks are obliged to close two days weekly. M. Reynaud, broadcasting, said the decrees constituted the Government’s economic programme for the war. France is producing less and consuming as much as or more than in peace-time, therefore it is necessary to increase production and prepare for every sacrifice, in order to limit consumption. It is mo: t important that France avoid embroilment in the vicious spiral of soaring prices and increasing wages, having a climax in currency depreciation. Ten sets of decrees have been issued designed to decrease consumption and spending and increase production. They include a reduction in expenditure abroad by reducing ordinary imports in order to conserve foreign exchange for extraordinary war purchases; a general census for the distribution of ration cards and the regulation of bakers, confectioners and restaurants; the incorporation of bean flour in flour for bread-making; a reduction in the consumption of oil products and alcohol; the control of prices and rebates for the purchase of seeds for spring wheat cultivation of land in the Army zones; measures to facilitate exports; the regulation of the employment of female labour; and a war against waste in civil and military expenditure.

CZECH REFUGEES

ESCAPE FROM HUNGARY (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright; BUDAPEST, February 28 The police, under pressure from Germany, placed a cordon round the French Legation, asserting that the Minister is harbouring forty Czech refugees. They failed to halt the Minister’s car in which the chauffeur allegedly smuggled out five refugees.