THE SOVIET'S DEFENCE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 85, 16 September 1938, Page 4

THE SOVIET'S DEFENCE

POLISH FRONTIER NETWORK OF FORTS ‘v LONDON, Aug. '2s—Russia is" stiengthoning and reorganising the ; whole European portion of the Red i Army, especially along the. entire Polish frontier, where work is piu- V ceeding in the establishment of what is regarded as Russia’s “Maginot Line.” This consists of most elaborate concrete fortifications, including tank traps and concrete steel forts. It is regarded as certain that Russia aims at establishing a strong network of fortifications, which will bo kept- permanently on a war-time footing. Whitehall authorities will not comment, but observers are watching the position closely, in view of Germany’s Western “Maginfit Line,” which would hinder France from attacking Germany in the event of a war in which Germany might- attempt v.o expand in South-Eastern 'Europe. The Riga correspondent of The Times states: “The full meaning of Russia’s re-organisation is not yetclear. In a military sense, these districts are the most important in European Russia, having between one quarter and one third of the whole of the Red Army’s man-power, and one third of its tanks and aeroplanes.”