Preparing For Coming German Offensive

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 307, 29 December 1939, Page 7

Preparing For Coming German Offensive

Another Sixty Days’ Respite Luxembourg Uneasy Over Nazi Activities United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Beceived Thursday, 8.15 p.m. LONDON, December 27. The Christmas lull on the Western Front has ended. The fog has lifted and both sides sent out numerous reconnaissance parties, particularly between the Luxembourg frontier and the .Saar Biver, with the object of discovering whether the lull had been employed to make important changes or reinforce outposts. Contact with the enemy involving sustained fighting is reduced to a minimum. It is pointed out that another sixty days at the most remain before winter conditions, in a military, cease to exist, and the Allies must be prepared for an enemy offensive at the end of February at the latest. The Luxembourg correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the greatest uneasiness has been caused as a result of German activities along the frontier. Until the end of November the Germans were busy constructing pillboxes and erecting barbed-wire barriers along the Moselle from Wasserbillig to Bemich. This brought into the Siegfried Line a region hitherto without permanent defences, but the defensive nature of the constructions allayed fears of an invasion. However, since December 1 the inhabitants of Luxembourg have seen thousands enlarging and improving German roads to the frontier. A new strategic road at right angles to the Moselle reaches the river six miles from Bemich, but is beyond the range of the French guns. The Germans have sounded the entire length of the Bivers Aauer and Moselle, apparently seeking fords. German staff officers also closely inspected all the 21 bridges along the sixty miles of the frontier, blowing up two, while the remainder were mined at the German end.