Troops Near Zweibrucken

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20049, 22 September 1939, Page 7

Troops Near Zweibrucken

HEAVY GUN FIRE CONTINUED Conjecture Concerning Nazi Bid MAY DRIVE THROUGH NEUTRAL STATE Hint Of Big Clash After Visit By Hitler (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 22, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 21. A communique issued in Paris states that local activity of contacting elements and artillery action by both sides continues on the Western Front. Reports mini the trout state tha,t the French are seriously threatening Zweibrucken. The French mobilisation of 5,300,000 reserves is reported to be completed, and an added 700,000 regulars are ready for action.

The Paris correspondent of the New York Times reports that intense artillery lire continued along the Luxemburg border to-day. Belgian sources continue to report German concentrations at Aachen (Aix la Chapeile).

Tile correspondent says that instead of an Allied attempt to storm the West Wall, a new phase of the war of the Western Front is more likely to be a German attempt at an enveloping movement, necessitating the violation of the neutrality of a small adjoining State. Some French military experts believe that the move may be through., the Netherlands. With the blockade threat more definite daily the German High Command must strike. A quick decision attempting the Maginot Line cannot secure it, especially as the French have consolidated their positions as much as 15 miles beyond and have dug trenches at the very outworks of the West Wall. It would be a long and hazardous task to try .to drive them back. Improvised Dutch Fortifications The correspondent adds that the French base the suggestion of an invasion through the Netherlands oil the fact that the Netherlands fortifications are improvised and a good jumping-off place for aerial attacks would also be available. Britain, however, considered that if the Germans took the serious step of violating neutrality they would hope to obtain a decisive result which could only be obtained by engaging .the opposing armies. It is recalled that the historic road for the invasion of France, is along the Oise Valley, entailing passing through Belgium, or both Belgium and Luxemburg. The Secretary If or War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, and Minister Without Portfolio, Lord Hankey, saw the French Premier, M. Daladier, in Paris yesterday. The Paris correspondent of the News-Chronicle says that the purpose of Mr. HoreBelisha ’s visit was to make final plans for immediate combined Freneh-British action, Marshal Gamelin attended the conference.

According to a report from Basle (Switzerland), the German newspaper, Ruhr Arbciter says Herr Hitler will shortly go to the Western Front. “Then the great clash will begin,” the paper adds.