NEUTRALITY GUARDED

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

NEUTRALITY GUARDED

HOW DUTCH PREPARED FDR WAR Stirred by Europe's alarums, the Netherlands has been making fast head-, way on an extensive programme of military and naval preparedness. Measures being taken will repair neglect of many years by a people never so militaristic as, for example, the Germans. Most vital in this programme is the complete reorganisation of frontier fortifications, with special emphasis upon those facing Germany. Army strategy remains based on the classic principle of the Dutch water line, which requires that German invastion be retarded while the mid-country along the Guelders valley is being flooded. To give this plan greater chance of success under new conditions the army is being increased by stronger annual levies. As against 19,500 formerly called to the colours yearly, 32,000 were called up. This measure raised the strength of the army from 300,000 to 450,000, and in time of war it will enable the nation to muster a total force, including reserves and volunteers, of 850,000. FRONTIER SHOCK TROOPS. To meet the initial shock of invasion the Netherlands will have available hundreds of thousands of soldiers who will be fighting literally for their own farms and villages. These men have been organised into new frontier battalions and designated for active duty in garrisons near their homes. All points at which an enemy might cross the larger rivers, such as the Maas, the Rhine, the Waal, and the Ysel, are covered by strong cement blockhouses, which are always manned by the military, even in peace time. Special troops constantly guard the bridges and are under orders to blow them up immediately upon the outbreak of >var. Frontier roads are commanded by heavy artillery, which would destroy them when the enemy crossed the border. As a result of these well-planned measures military experts estimate that even a great German army would be well occupied for three days in forcing its way to the water line, which in the meantime would have been established by expert engineers. The water line itself, miles wide, would cut off the heart of the country, the provinces of North and South Holland, from the eastern provinces, making it impossible for an invader to reach the former by laud. The cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam would thus be well defended. k Although the Dutch Government expects no violation of its neutrality by any Power which might invade by sea, it, nevertheless has put in effect several measures for defence of the coast. Near the waterways along the North Sea coast forts have, been built and armed with heavy artillery. Near The Hague the dunes bristle with pillboxes and machine guns, which it is believed would prevent hostile troops from making a landing. Extensive minefields protect naval centres. In aviation undeniably the Netherlands is backward,- and will find it a major undertaking to, attain strength comparable with that of Powers better equipped. This situation is being relieved to some extent by daily deliveries of planes from the Fokker plant at Amsterdam and the .Koolhoven factory at Rotterdam, tvhich are specialising in the manufacture of military and naval aircraft.' Simultaneously a large number of military aerodromes have been established in recent months, especially near the coast and the frontiers. The vast fleets of planes being built up by the great Powers, nevertheless, have given the Dutch Government crave concern over the problem of air defence. ■ Because of this potential menace the Netherlands for the first time in history feels insecure despite the water line, for now an enemy, even though held at bay by land, can strike at the heart of the country from the air. To prepare for this contingency the new device of private defence is beinc developed. In the more vital parts of the Netherlands, heavy industries as well as municipalities are . organising their own anti-aircraft units, arming them with guns for which they pay themselves. The Government, highly pleased with this procedure, is cooperating. In audition the Government during the last year has organised several specialised anCT-aircrit regiments. These are distributed throughout the country to afford widespread protection, though, naturally they are strongest at.vital points. To supplement the production or Dutch factories, large orders for naval aircraft recently were placed in the United States. Those planes are tor• w chiefly in the Netherlands East Indies. NAVAL DEFENCE. For naval defence an unusually larg« programme is being, shaped. Most important elements in this are three battle cruisers of 30.000 tons each, construction of which may be expected to begin in the near future. The present Dutch fleet includes several new and rebuilt cruisers, in addition tp older vessels, and numerous submarines of which most are intended S? the defence of the Netherlands E Yn SSTof war the Dutch fleet in Europe will be employed only to defend the sea estuaries and lay a great should Great Britain be an ally of tba Netherlands. •