WAR ANNIVERSARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20007, 4 August 1939, Page 11

WAR ANNIVERSARY

GERMAN PARADES BOASf OF STRENGTH “FIGHT TO LAST MAN” ITALIAN ARMY PAGEANT DANZIG NAZI CLAIMS (Eliic. T«-l. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (ißec-d. August 3, 3 p.m.) LONDON, August 3. Reports from Berlin give further details of the proclamation issued by the German Commander in Chief, General Brauchitseh, on the occasion of the anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War. “We are in a stronger position than in 1914, because experience has taught us what it seems to lie defenceless at the mercy of an enemy full of hatred,” he declared. “The Fuehrer nas given us a dear political aim for which we will fight in unity. The political and military leadership will ensure that the armed might of 80,000,000 would be thrown into the fight to the last man.” August 2 has hitherto been observed only as the anniversary of Marshal Hindenburg’s death. To-rtnv 1,000,000 men in field gray paraded throughout Germany. The Kaiser in 1914 had a standing army of 700,000 men, compared with 2,000,000 .to be called up by the end of August, but the fully-trained men number only 1,000,000, compared with 19 classes trained for the reserves in 1914, totalling 7,500,000. Secret Air Manoeuvres The celebrations were accompanied by most secret air manoeuvres, concerning which the greatest satisfaction is expressed. The rationing of petrol has already been enforced in Berlin and none is allowed more than 2J gallons. Messages from Rome state that the King of Italy and Italian, German, and Spanish generals watched the I Italian army manoeuvres, while Signor Mussolini rbared overhead piloting his own bomber. The forces were supposed to be operating against an enemy which had broken through the French frontier. Signor Gayda says that the manoeuvres were necessary owing to the manifestly aggressive British and French plans. A writer in the Telegrafo says “The enemy Italy has to prepare to fight is Britain.” A Danzig message states that the Nazi leader, Herr Foerster, speaking at a mass demonstration, said he did not know when Danzig would return to the Reich. He attacked the English domination of the sea, declaring that the Germans had sailed the seas long before the British who won their Empire by brutal force. “They now say we have no right to sea power, but the Fuehrer demanded the same right to the world’s goods as anyone else,” said Herr Foerster. Eighty million people had a greater right to it than England.