HUGE BRITISH ARMY

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 250, 25 October 1939, Page 3

HUGE BRITISH ARMY

SIGNS ON TIHE WESTERN FRONT may ylt involve millions DAWN PATROL AGAIN OVER, GERMANY LONDON, Oct. 23. A special correspondent of the British United Press, “Seinewhere in France” travelling through the ' British area writes: “It becomes increasingly obvious that the original British Expeditionary Force is only the framework of a huge army. Thousands of British are still [louring into Franee, bringing an immense amount of supplies and munitions. “As far as can lie judged, the British authorites have abandoned the thesis held by some .military experts a few years ago that Britain would not be required! to send a big land army to France in the event of another war. If conditions here are any criterion. Rfitian is determined to, send forces running into millions it necessary. “Conversations with the officers reveals that none expects a short war. or an early, political or economic collapse of Germany. Nor are they under the delusion that victory will be simple.” The British United Press representative with the Air Force writes: “With tails up because ot the week-end successes of the Royal Air Force on the Home Front, the British dawn patrol Hew over th? western Front this .morning, seeking fresh triumphs. Planes from an advance aerodrome behind the Maginot- Line penetrated a long distance over Germany and returned to report all quiet, expressing disappointment that they had not met some of the latest German machines. The weekend successes were received jubilantly among the personnel ot the Royal Air Force in France and many toasts were honoured.” Reports from French sources show that Germany’s Richthofen squadron is now' operating on the Western I rout Two planes shot down by the French bore, in addition to the usual' identity marks, the red and/ white check pattern which Richthofen made famous in the last war. Further Haris messages' state that the cold weather is increasing on the Western Front. German prisoners taken during the last 48 hours appear to lie suffering greatly from this. They say that tliev have no blankets and only one hot meal diaily. They state that the food received from the French was much superior to the 'German.