NEARING PEAK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 24 August 1939, Page 2

NEARING PEAK

GERMANY'S STRENGTH

2,250,000 SOLDIERS SOON

RUSH TO END HARVESTING (BERLIN, Aug. 8. The German Army is moving steadily toward the peak of its strength. Experts estimate that its greatest strength will be reached about September 9, _ yhen another 400,000 men will report for training. Provided (that no classes are dismissedi in the meantime, the total strength, which is already approaching 2,000,000, will soon reach 2,250,000. The chief army manoeuvres, for which preparations are being made, will take place in Pomerania, near the Polish frontier, in East Prussia, and in South Germarfy up to the Bohemian frontier. The East Prussian manoeuvres will consist of fortress operations, for which special fortress troops, including reservists up to 55 years of age, have been mobilised. Schools Commandeered The South German, mandeuvres will test the striking force of Germany’s motorised divisions. In Pomerania and East Prussia, many schools have been commandeered to serve as barracks, and the school holidays arc likely to be prolonged in order to keep the schools empty. More and more private motor cars and trucks are being called up. Aircraft are now taking part in large-scale exercises.

•Over practically all Germany feverish efforts are toeing made to finish the harvesting by the middle of August. Office and factory workers have been drafted to farms and thousand's of volunteers from schools and universities are assisting. Wire Entanglements

Observers from Moravia and Slovakia, report further extensive German fortifications' along the whole Polish frontier, with barbed-wire entanglements 12ft, high on the frontier.

The fortifications have been erected toy conscript labour. Many pseudo Customs houses are actually machinegun emplacements. Camauflaged tanks are continually moving through the Slovakian woods at night. Within a few days 50,000 Czech workmen from unemployed labour camps will toe drafted to East Prussia to construct fortifications. It is authoritatively stated that already 50,000 workers are similarly employed in Danzig.

Eleven large transport ships which sailed, from Hamburg loaded with guns, light tanks and pontoons, are believed to be destined for the German manoeuvres in East Prussia.

A .pontoon, bridge connecting East Prussia and Danzig is nearing completion.