GERMAN DEFENCES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 456, 14 June 1937, Page 5

GERMAN DEFENCES

EASTERN FRONTIERS Their Rapid Completion Press Association—Copyright. London, May 14. Germany, according to a special correspondent of the “Manchesiter Guardian,” is completing her defences on the eastern frontiers at rapidly as in the west. ■ “There ere three fortified lines on the Polish frontier,” the “Manchester Guardian" writes. “One is along! the Oder, extending along the west bank of the river from Breslau as ’far as the Granberg region. “This., line chiefly comprises concrete forts armed with light and heavy artillery and machine-guns. There are five to seven forts lor every kilometre. "The line serves for .the defence of the Breslau-Liegnitz.Sagan railway and the German flank in the event of war against Czechoslovakia.

“There is next the Oder-Warthe arch, consisting of numerous isolated, concrete shelters and machine-gqn nests, extending from Kustrln to Konigsberg (in Brandenburg, not to be confused with the Baltic seaport).

"Then* comes the Pomeranian line, extending from Deutschekrone to the Stalp region. About a year ago several villages were removed to make way for large subterranean fortifications.

“The fortifications on the Czechoslovak frontier are less strongly de? fensive in character, and show that the German general staff thinks, in terms of offence on this frontier. There is only one exception/ the Barnau- Tirschenreuth -iMahring - Selbhof line, which is stable, just as the defences against Poland ere, and has. a concrete fort at every 150 to 175 varde. The reason for this exception is that these defences extend to those in the Black Forest, and are meant to prevent co-operation between the French and Czechoslovakian armies l . Air Bases and Roads. “South of Barnau, in the direction of Flossenberg and Passau, the German defences are mobile. The same is true of the defences of the Fichtel and the Erz Gebirge, as well as along the Anruaberg.Marienberg-Gotnieuba-Konigsteln - Neustadt - Ebersbach-Zlt _ tau line, though the mountain passes are strongly fortified.

“Strategic roads and air bases are particularly numerous on the Czecho. tlovak frontier, which also points to offensive rather than defensive preparations. Guns with immense range, are placed north of Bautzen. It is said that they can bombard Prague, 140 kilometres away, “Special frontier troops for work on trenches and in back areas during an advance are stationed near the Czechoslovak frontier in Saxony and Silesia. I “Men over military age are called up by the local authorities for drill and training on Sundays. They are commanded by former officers of the police, the Storm Troopers, and the Nazi Guards. They have a special centre at Konigstein, where 1000 are trained at a time in five-day courses’. Many farm labourers are also called up for service on Sundays, end those I Who do not report are severely pun. ished. , j There is a chain of new barracks, , aerodromes 1 , hangars, workshops, 1 arsenals, and garages for pins and tanks extending from Dlfeau through , Dresden and Wurzen, as far as Pleu■on and Leipzig. WwWy o f these bulld , 1 ings are subterranean,”