WILL GERMANY STRIKE THROUGH BELGIUM?

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 9

WILL GERMANY STRIKE THROUGH BELGIUM?

Military Activity Near Frontiers

Civilians Evacuating Aachen District

Britain and France Reported Perturbed

Hitler Expected to Make Offensive Threats First

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

NEW YORK, September 19 '(Received September 20, at 10 a.m.)

The London correspondent 6f the United Press says Britain and France are concerned at the reports of German vmilitary activity near-the Belgian and Netherlands frontiers. It is reported that German civilians are evacuating the Aachen district, which is in a direct line with Liege, Germany’s route in the 1914 invasion of Belgium, also that a portion of the Germans is being recalled from Poland and concentrated within “ striking distance ” of the Belgian and Netherlands frontiers.

■ Well-informed circles in London believe that Hitler will shortly launch two-fold offensive threats and cajolings, firstly against neutrals in order to offset the British blockade, and secondly against the British and the French peoples in the hope of forcing London and Paris to agree to Nazi peace terms.

vThe threat of the German mechanised forces being transferee! to the Rhine from Poland is believed to be greatest for Holland and Belgium, but* when Hitler’s peace efforts fail the German General Staff will be faced with the momentous decision whether to strike through the Low Countries in an effort to outflank the Maginot Line and ease the pressure on the Siegfried Line and save , the Ruhr. The ‘ Boersen Zeitung ’ sounded a note for the Govern-ment-inspired Press by calling on Britain and France to end hostilities now that the Russians and Germans have overrun Poland.

’ Editorials in other papers said the Democracies were faced with “ the necessity of revising their opinions with regard to the continuation of the war.”

HITLER AT DANZIG WARNING TO BRITAIN AND FRANCE FIVE BOMBS IN RETURN FOR EVERY ONE PREPARED TO DEFEND HIS fIEGIME 11 RUSSIA AND GERMANY WILL SETTLE POLISH SITUATION " DANZIG, September 19. (Received September 20, at 1 p.m.) In a. speech at Danzig Hitler weened Britain and France that for every bomb dropped on a German city the Nazis would drop five on British or French cities. A grey anpy car carried Hitler through tremendous crowds in the Lange market place, where he began ■peaking at 5.16 p.m. after Herr Foereter had spoken briefly in extending a welcome. “ This soil will remain German,” Hitler said. “The fate of this city has been the fate of Germany.” He attacked the Versailles Treaty, and repeated his assertions that it would never happen again. He added that a solution of the problem could Have been reached at the end of August. “ I waited and waited, but toothing happened except Polish mobilisation,” he said. “ Patience should not be confused with weakness. The Poles were told they were able to resist Germany and were told that they could rely on the help of other Powers. Today it is said that the real problem is not Poland, but the German regime. We have no war aim against Britain *nd France.” Hitler referred scornfully to " foolish propaganda,” and said that if the destruction of his regime is the -objective of Britain he would be proud to be the object of their attack. He declared that Russia and Germany would settle the Polish situaton, resulting in the removal of the tension. However, he was determined to continue the war as long as he was forced. The word surrender would not be uttered even in six or seven years. Hitler hinted at restoration of a Greater Germany. He concluded, “ All parts of the Reich are,now united.” Herr Hitler, referring to Versailles, said the warmongers at that time did not-solve a single problem, but created numberless new problems. It was only a question of time before down-trodden Germany itself would rise once more and solve them.

“ Eighty-two million people want to live and will live, even if it does not suit the warmongers,” he said. “ The last war had no ultimate winner. Everybody was the loser. This is forgotten by the . warmongers.” The world did not know what Germany had had to sacrifice for Poland. All the territory then incorporated in Poland was exclusively the product of German industry and activity. Poland was incapable of maintaining this culture. Nevertheless, he said, he had always attempted to find a tolerable solution which might lead to an acceptable arrangement. He had striven to shape definite frontiers in the west and south to safeguard the future of peace, and had made the same attempt in ' the east. He had tried to reconcile the economic demands of Poland with the German character of Danzig. He had been all too modest in his claims. Herr Hitler repeated the German version of the last proposals, to Poland, adding that it was clear Poland intended to incorporate East Prussia and annex Pomerania. The only question was whether the Elbe would be a better frontier than the Oder. Negotiations with Poland in August would have been possible had the Poles been prepared to negotiate. “ At last 1 decided to speak to Poland in a way she could not misunderstand,” he continued. “ Yet, even then peace could have been saved, but Britain refused the plans the Duce worked out with France and myself and sent an ultimatum instead. “ Now that the Poles are defeated we hope to arrange a situation in which a tolerable solution will be found by reasonable means for the future, but those in the west need not imagine that it must always be so. If they want it otherwise they can have it.” The speech ended at 6.25 p.m. with cries of “ Sieg Heil!” “ TRUE TQ TYPE " SPEECH HAS LITTLE MEANING (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 19. (Received September 20, at 2 p.m.) Hitler’s speech at Danzig followed the now familiar lines of the speeches he has delivered each succeeding .day of the “ liberation ” achieved by enslavement of another people in defiance of treaty obligations and his own earlier pledges. Once more it has been the “greatest day of his life.” Commentators in London can find little interest in the speech, so true does it run to type. By his contemptuous estimate of public intelligence in 1 Mein Kampf ’ Hitler had already prepared the world for what would otherwise excite some surprise —his complete indifference to observance of any kind of consistency, it is again clear 'that his words have no meaning or value to him beyond the immediate transitory purpose they serve in the game of political chicanery. In a typical passage to-day he dated from the death of Marshal Pilsttdski the deterioration in Gennan-l’olish relations, <and said: “ It was possible for 1

Such of the cable news in this Issue as is so headed has appeared in ‘ The Times ’ and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of ‘ The Times ' unless expressly stated to be so.

“REDS” IN POUND TANKS ENTER VILNA TROOPS APPROACHING LITHUANIAN BORDER KAUNAS, September 19. (Received September 20, at 10.5 a.m.) Soviet infantry are following up tanks which entered Viina- last evening. Meanwhile the local administration continues to function. Soviet troops are approaching the Lithuanian border. A GERMAN VIEW (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 10.40 a.m.) An English-speaking radio announcer in Berlin stated: “The Soviet has saved Germany the trouble of occupying the whole of Poland.” A SOVIET EXPLANATION MOSCOW, September 19. (Received September 20, at 11 a.m.) It is semi-officiaily stated that the Soviet invasion of Poland was the only means of forcing Germany to agree to the establishment even of a remnant of an independent Polish "State. RUSSO-GERMAN ARRANGEMENT DIVIDING THE SPOILS KAUNAS. September 19. (Received September 20. at noon.) The Germans are withdrawing from Bialvstok in favour of the Russians. Brest-Litovsk is also remaining in Russian hands. Negotiations are proceeding as to who shall occupy Lemberg.

THE RUSSIAN TROOPS MARSHAL VOROSHILOV IH COMMAND COPENHAGEN. September 19. Received September 20, at 11 a.m.) Marshal Voroshilov is personally leading the Russian troops in Roland. IN VILNA PROVINCE RAILWAY JUNCTIONS SEIZED LONDON. September 19. Received September 20, at 11 a.in.) A correspondent of the Hritish United Press Association on the Polish front says that Soviet columns passed through Vilna and entered Swienciaucy and Nowogrodek (in Vilna province!. Wolowycz (55 miles east of Bialystok). and Slonim (south of Nowogrodek). occupying important railway junctions. The German High Command admits continuance of fighting west of AVarsaw and north-west of Lwow. The Riga correspondent of the United Press Association states that Russian troops on entering Vilna said the inhabitants were plundering the army storehouses. Some of the suburbs were aflame. A Cracow correspondent states that pro-German Polish troops are being despatched to the western front. Three lorry-loads of men clad in Polish uniforms said they had been unwillingly drafted into the Polish Army. The Germans captured and released them on their volunteering for the German Army. STILL .RESISTING THE PORT OF GDYNIA LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 11.10 a.m.) The Berlin correspondent of the United American Press Association says the warship Schleswig Holstein opened fire from Danzig harbour upon the height* above Gdynia, which has still not surrendered, but the absence of reply indicated that the Poles were short of ammunition. Between 2,000 and 3,000 defenders in the vicinity of Gdynia are maintaining the fight against superior forces on the Oblosz heights, west of the town, also in the village of Ochshoeft, “ waiting,” as captives said, “for the British to arrive.” GERMANS CLAIM PRISONERS NO FURTHER USE FOR AIR FORSE IN EAST BERLIN, September 19. (Received September 20, at 1 p.m.) A German communique states that the Poles are defending AVarsaw without any regard for the lives of the civilians. The German air force carried out only a few attacks, as use of the air force is no longer necessary on the eastern front. Fifty thousand prisoners were captured in a battle near the Bzura River. A further 10.000 were captured north-west of Lemberg, which was urged to surrender. A comm unique reports slight activity on the AVestern Front. GERMAN AND POLISH CASUALTIES FRENCH MILITARY ESTIMATE PARIS, September 19. (Received September 20, at 11.5 a.m.) Thq French military authorities estimate that .the German casualties in Poland are 20,000 to 25,000 dead and 90.000 wounded, and the Polish 20,000 dead and 80,000 wounded, excluding civilians. HEAVY CASUALTIES 20,000 POLISH DEAD AND WOUNDED LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 11 a.m.) The Berlin correspondent of the American Press Association states that the High Command communique claims a total of 300,000 Polish military captives, including numerous generals, and 2,000 officers. The communique adds that the losses on both sides are heavy. The Polish dead and wounded are estimated at 20,000. NEW SUFFER STATE PLANS FOR BORDER REALIGNMENT CEIINAUTI, September 19. (Received September 20, at 1 p.m.) A new pro-German and pro-Russian regime shortly being established in Poland will immediately sign a pact with Russia realigning the Polish borders and making a new State as a buffer between Russia and Germany. REFUGE IN RUMANIA TEN THOUSAND POLISH TROOPS BUCHAREST, September 19. (Received September 20, at 11.5 a.m.) Ten thousand Polish officers and men so far have reached Rumania, where they were disarmed and interned.

us only with difficulty to look on while the German minority was barbarously ill-treated. The world, which is always shaken to its depths when the Polish Jew, who has recently emigrated to Germany, is deported, remained dumb in the face of this ill-treatment.” The obvious retort which occurs to man}' here is that the world remained dumb in the face of this ill-treatment for the very good reason that from the time of Marshal Pilsudski’s death in May, 1935, until this spring, Hitler represented his relations with Poland as excellent. No word was said in Germany of the maltreatment of Germans in Poland. This is how Hitler himself described his friendship for Poland in the Reichstag ,on May 21 1935: “We recognise the Polish State as the home of a great and patriotic nation with understanding and cordial friendship of candid Nationalists.” After three years, in the Reichstag on February 20, 1935, he could still say: “In the fifth year which follows the coming into force of the first great international convention concluded by the Reich we state with genuine admiration that our relations with that State with which we had perhaps the greatest antagonism are not only characterised by a detente, but that in the course of past years these relations have resulted in a more friendly drawing together. The value of this was questioned by many at the time, hut it has now passed the test, and 1 may well say that since the League of Nations ceased its continuous efforts at disturbances in Danzig and appointed a now commissioner, a man of personality, this most dangerous place for peace in Europe has entirely lost its menacing significance. The Polish State respects the national conditions in this country, and Germany respects Polish rights. It was possible to find a way to an understanding which, emanating from Danzig in spite of the assertions of many mischief makers, has succeeded in removing all friction between Germany and Poland; and made it possible to work together in true amity.” “ GRASS MISSTATEMENTS" BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S DESCRIPTION LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 11.55 a.m.) It is officially stated that the Government described Hitler’s Danzig speech as “ full of crass restatements which usually fall from his lips,” and asserted that it convicted him before the world. “ Hitler can scarcely expect Britain to believe that German aspirations are limited and that he has no further aspirations.” REACTION IN AMERICA NEW YORK, September 19. (Received September 20, at 10 a.m.) Herr Hitler’s speech sent stocks soaring over seven points and clogged the tickers. Steel shares led the priorspeech stocks, moving one to two points higher, but were a point or more below earlier peaks.

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