GERMAN NAVAL MOVES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21083, 9 April 1940, Page 5

GERMAN NAVAL MOVES

WARSHIPS STEAMING NORTHWARDS 100 VESSELS FOR NORWEGIAN COAST FORCES GREATLY REINFORCED IN THE BALTIC {United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 9, 11 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, April 8 The Aftonbladet says that from 90 to 100 German warships, mostly armed trawlers, coastal craft and mine-sweepers are steaming northward in the direction of Skager-Rak, an area of the North Sea, between Denmark and Norway. Another report says that several' German warships are at Kattegat. PARIS, April 8 It is officially stated that Germany has greatly reinforced her forces in the Baltic in the past fourteen hours. Troops are constantly practising embarkation and disembarkation. It is also reported that British battleships and cruisers have been sighted off the Norwegian coast.

INDUSTRY IN FRANCE WORKING AT FULL BLAST ON THE WAY TO VICTORY GREAT OUTPUT OF ARMS 'United Pres’* Assn—Eire. Tel. Copyright) LONDON April 8 “After six months of feverish activity, the gigantic industrial war machine of France is in full blast on the way to victory,” says a special correspondent of the Times, writing from “somewhere in France.” The writer adds: “Much is left to do before the peak is reached, but daily the rhythm quickens. Already the output of arms is surpassing the highest hopes. Women, youths and men above military age are heroically toiling day and night throughout each week, turning out guns, shells, aeroplanes and tanks in a constant stream, thus presenting the image of a country united in arms. “I witnessed the incongruous spectacle of the Loraine Steel Works lighting up the night sky for miles around, almost within sound of gunfire. “The secrets of armament factories cannot be revealed. Already these have cost more than one spy his life. “The whirlwind of •’industrial activity is typical of the ardour and courage which the French workmen share with French soldiers in the hour of need.” SOVIET ACTIVITY VERITABLE MAGINOT LINE ON MANCHUKUO BORDER PREPARING FOR SURPRISE United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Oopvrig-nn NEW YORK, April 7 Along the 3000-mile frontier between Siberia and Manchukuo, coincident with the spring thaw, the Russians are feverishly connecting the existing widely-spaced concrete pillboxes with concreted trenches and underground passages, resulting in a veritable Maginot Line in East Asia, says Mr Hallett Abend, Shanghai corresoondent of the New York Times. Some observers conjecture that this indicates that military developments may.be expected in the Near ; East or the Balkans, , and the Russians are therefore securing their frontiers against a surprise attack by Japan; but Japan’s involvement in China makes this improbable. Others interpret the activity as a sign that the Soviet intends to attack Japan while the latter’s army ia mired in China. OIL AND PETROL SUPPLIES IN RUSSIA PLANS FOR SEALED STORAGE United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgut) j MOSCOW, April 8 The journal Industria, official organ of the Russian heavy industries, announces that the operators on the Baku oilfields must complete plans for sealed storage of all oil and petrol this year. The present practice of storing oil in open pits is forbidden. The official organ of Soviet shipping reports that 11,000 workmen are improving the Dneiper and Bug River canal system with the object of increasing the trade turnover with Germany, and that 18,000 will soon be working. Oil, salt, grain, and coal will be the main freight along the canals. MEN GIVE IN FLOUR TO BE LOADED United Press Assr, —Elec. Tel. Coryrlrnt > SYDNEY, April 8 The waterside workers decided to load the flour into the steamer, which is loading supplies for the Australian Imperial Force in Palestine, but they insisted upon taking time off for a " smoko.”

GERMANY AND ITALY ARE ALLIES AFRAID? QUESTION TO BE TESTED IN NEUTRAL WATERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, April 8 In her effort in the Adriatic to defeat the Allies' blockade, Germany banked on the belief that the Allies were afraid of offending Italy. This question may be tested when the Nazi freighter Ankara sails from Dubrovnik for Trieste, with a cargo of bauxite for Germany. The German plan, as reported, ia to keep to Yugoslav and Italian waters. If the attempt is successful. German ships, it is believed, will enter trade across neutral waters as far as the ports of the Black Sea, aiming at the transport of Russian oil to Germany. The Times suggests that the concentration of German ships in Yugoslav waters may mean that Germany intends to take advantage of the increased rail traffic between Germany and Italy, and use empty trucks for the carriage of Yugoslav ores and timber, unloaded in Italy from German ships now idle in the Adriatic, j Bauxite, copper, magnesite, lead, ore and timber may be brought in across Italy. APRIL FOOL JOKE ALL EUROPE LAUGHING SPEECH BY BOGUS HITLER (United Press Assn.—Elee. Tel. Cop/rigmi LONDON, April 8 Europe is laughing at an April Fool joke played by the British Broadcasting Corporation on the Nazis. It consisted of a speech by a bogus Hiler, who faithfully reproduced the peculiarities and mannerisms of the Fuehrer’s delivery. The impersonator, a well-known Austrian actor, Martin Miller, spoke during the German programme, and he reminded his German audience that Columbus discovered America because he was using German-made instruments. “ Since 1492 I have remained silent,” he said. “ Now my patience is ended. There are in the United States minorities closely connected with the German Reich by race and tradition, including 324,000 Czechs in Chicago, and 476,000 Poles in New York. They are entitled to the protection of the Reich, which I am enforcing.” The bogus Fuehrer concluded by proclaiming a German protectorate over the United States, his speech being frequently interrupted by the “ heiling ” ol an imaginary audience. BRITISH POLITICS THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER MR ANTHONY EDEN LEADS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, April 8 In a survey of public preference for a Prime Minister if Mr Chamberlain retired, the News Chronicle gives Mr Anthony Eden 28 per cent, Mr Winston Churchill 25 per cent, Viscount Halifax 7 per cent, Mr C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Labour Party, 6 per cent, and Mr Lloyd George 5 per cent. £IO,OOO BET WON YOUNG PRIVATE'S LUCK LOST £30,000 LAST YEAR (United Press Assn.-~-Elec. Tel. Copyrlgut) LONDON, April 8 A 26-year-old private, Gordon Roll, who earns 2s a day in the Army, has won £IO,OOO in a bet on the racehorse Smy, which he formerly owned. He sold the horse when he lost £30,000 last summer plunging on the turf, after inheriting £140,000 from his father. Roll was in America planning a film career when the v.ar started, and rushed heme to join up. His comrades call him "Fairy Godfather,” because of his generosity.