THROUGH HOLLAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 106, 5 January 1940, Page 8

THROUGH HOLLAND

POSSIBILITIES Op FLANKING MOVEMENT •„ HITLER MAY TAKE A CHANCE (By the Beacon Watchman) The recent announcement that Germany is prepared to respect the neutrality of Holland only if that country increases her exports to Get* many, is some indication that the German High Command has given consideration to the possibility ol an invasion of the Dutch State. Only a few weeks ago, too, the Dutch military authorities were reported to be taking precautionary steps, flooding areas and felling trees. It was denied later that they had any apprehension, but this denial is meaningless as it was known to them as well as the Allied leaders that) the German High Command have long possessed plans for a sudden attack through Holland and Belgium as one method of carrying a war to French territory.

About four years ago .the German General Staff adopted the VonHepp plan for an attack on France. This provides for the main effort of the German Army to be directed against the Southern part of Limburg; and for a rapid advance through Holland and Belgium. It is based upon the tactics of but allows for the fortifications which Belgium has constructed round Liege and along the Meuse.

These fortifications would be surmounted in the North by way oi Dutch Limburg, and in the South through Luxemburg. Accordingly the region of Germany between Cologne and the Dutch and Belgian frontiers has been equipped with a vast network of motor roads which would facilitate the rapid movement of large bodies of troops.

The success of the plan would depend primarily upon the speed with which it could be carried out, and in this connection it is interesting to note that rapiditj' of execution has always been Germany's chief aim. Justifies Violation. "The Handbook of Contemporary Military Sciences" justifies the violation of Dutch and Belgian territory as being essential in order to forestall any French aggression there. This book says, in one place, "In consequence of the lines of fortifications, along the Eastern frontier of Belgium, Germany will be compelled, in a war against France, to make a dash across the territory of Holland." Further, this same article observes, "It is obvious that the conditions resulting from the Treaty of Versailles involve the likelihood of a violation of Dutch territory. '

In addition to the reasons quoted, an object of the German General Staff, in invading Holland, would be the establishment of naval and air bases on the coast, and thus be able to harry British communications to France. Preparedness. The Germans were able to make a rapid advance through Belgium in 1914 because, apart from the fact that the frontier forts were out of date, Belgium had not seriously con sidered the prospect of invasion and was not prepared for it. In this respect the position obtaining in Holland to-day differs. Holland has no forts on the Dutch-German frontier, and, in fact, lias little of an army. The country's population is only 8% millions and under normal circumstances would be no match for the powerful German army. But the country has a natural defence worth many divisions o) troops.

The highest point of the country is only (if>() feet above sen level and with 4,500 miles of canals crisscrossing the hat land it would bo comparatively easy matter to flood any areas considered necessary for the delaying of the German forces. This has already been done in places Effects of Violation. Should Germany attack Holland in an effort to outflank the Allied ariny garrisoning the Maginot Line, and at the same time in an endeavour to establish bases on the Dutch coast, it would be necessary for the Allies to assist Holland. Not only necessary, it would be imperative. The biter here could quite easily be bitten, or, in other words, a flanking movement directed against the ANfed positions could be reversed and made into a turning movement on the main Siegfried Line. r Continued nt foot of novt colu:n.:)

General Keitel, Chief of Staff of tlie German High Command, is one of the German leaders who favour the plan of attack through Holland, so that should he be able to influence Hitler, or should Hitler decide, to follow this course in a gambler's effort, the movement of the German Army will lack nothing in speed or direction. The total effect of German violation of Holland's neutrality cannot be foreseen and it is idle to speculate, but if Ilitier docs attempt to force a decision in this manner, the German Army wilL find the task more difficult than the invasion of Belgium in 1814.