DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG

Evening Star, Issue 23375, 19 September 1939, Page 6

DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG

IMPORTANCE TO GERMANY The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg is ■mlv'999 snuare miles in extent, and has some 200,000 inhabitants, yet it puivs an important part in a Europe caught in war fever, writes a correof the ’ Manchester Guaidia°‘rman, French, and Belgian fortifications surround the Grand Duchy which has an army of 500 volunteers, most of whom in any case do only police duty Luxemburg, once the strongest fortress of this part of Europe ceased to be after 1867, when the London Treaty provided for the country’s neutralitv. The fortifications of the Powers surrounding Luxemburg have been built with the purpose of preventing the march of possible opponents across Luxemburg. . . , , . But Luxemburg is important for Germany, not only because it constitutes a “hole” in the Belgian fortification system but because of its iron ore and steel production. In 1937 Luxemburg produced 7,700,000 tons of iron ore and 2,500,000 tons of steel Her iron ore production is as great as Germany s ore imports from Sweden, and her steel production was in 1937 almost 14 per cent, that of Germany. Obviously Germany has the greatest interest in seeing that these iron ore and steel supplies shall be hers in a war and undoubtedly she will exert all “ possible ” pressure to get them. Many important Luxemburger, believe that a direct German military attack on the country would not be made because it would involve a French conn-ter-attaek that would lead to the destruction of the much-needed ironworks Germany, therefore. tries to strengthen her position in Luxemburg bv propaganda. Much German money Nazi agents, and even camouflaged .storm troopers are being sent to Luxemburg. The Nazis began to print a

paper in-St. Vith. in Belgium (in th® coveted Eupen Malmedy district), hut the copies were seized on the frontier. The Luxemburg Government is keeping a sharp watch, and Nazi propaganda has made little headway. . The Luxemburgers speak a patois or their own, which reminds one vaguely of German, but is probably nearer to Flemish. On the_ other hand, the Luxemburgers learn m school both French and German, and the fact that all citizens speak German is being exploited bv the Reich. The Luxemburger.*, however, deny that they are German.