MOVE BY SOVIET

Evening Star, Issue 23368, 11 September 1939, Page 5

MOVE BY SOVIET

TROOPS LEAVE FOR POLISH FRONTIER MUCH SPECULATION AS TO REASON LONDON, September 10. A message from Moscow states that the Tass News Agency says that parts of several classes are being called up as a result of the Polish-German war, “ which acquires a wide and menacing character.” A report from New York states thali the Moscow correspondent of the ‘ New Y r ork Times ’ says that some foreign diplomatic observers view the activity as preparations for an advance through the Wilno gap leading through the difficult marshy country to Poland with the object of cutting off and seizing Polish troops in the north-east. Others believe that the Soviet is concerned at the rapid progress of the Germans with the prospect of their reaching the Soviet frontier, and is making defensive preparations. Another message from Moscow states that the Commissariat of. Foreign Trade has been authorised to limit or prohibit exports to countries where legislation and administrative acts and currency restrictions create conditions unfavourable to the Soviet’s foreign trade. The Moscow correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ states that apparently troop trains last night left Moscow on what _is normally the Eastern route, and it is not impossible that they then took a westerly direction. Those called up include individual members of the 1901-11 classes. A number of doctors has been ordered, from Moscow and others recalled from vacations, thus tending to confirm that preparations were 'not planned, hut are dictated by alarm at the unexpectedly rapid progress of the Germans towards the Russian front. Should the Western offensive relieve the pressure on Poland, enabling the halting of thq German advance, the Soviet' may relax its precautions. DUKE OF WINDSOR RETURN TO ENGLAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 9. Commenting on the report that th® Duke and Duchess of Windsor are leaving Antibes for England, ‘ The Times" says: “The announcement will cause no "surprise, still less any kind of contention. It has always been assured that war would sweep away whatever difficulties there may have been in the way of the Duke’s earlier return. No one could dream of the Duke’s absence from England at a time in which his absence would become an intolerable exile, or suppose for a moment that anything would be lacking on the Government’s part to speed up the fulfilment of his dearest and most urgent wish.” FROZEN MEAT REQUISITION OF IMPORTS LONDON, September 10. Orders have been Issued requisitioning arrivals, of imported chilled and frozen meat as from midnight to-mor-row. SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST WAR ACTION GERMAN SHIP SEIZED DURBAN, September s. (Received September 1.1,.at 8 a.m.) The Union’s first war action cam®, when armed police seized the German ship Hagen, lying in Durban Harbour. ATROCITY STORIES LITTLE CREDENCE GIVEN GERMAN PROPAGANDA (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 10. (Received September 11, at 8 a.m.) The news services from Germany contain stories of Polish atrocities which' have attracted attention dn -London from their remarkable similarity to.last year’s stories in the German Press of Czech atrocities. The feeling here is that there must he few people left-in any part of the world wno, are any .longer prepared to accept “ evidence ” of atrocities .put out by the German Propaganda' Ministry. ■