FORBIDDEN BELT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1938, Page 7

FORBIDDEN BELT

GERMANY’S FORTIFIED AREA GREAT EXTENSION OF SECRET ZONE. CZECH BORDER INCLUDED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. BERLIN, August 3. The German decree making the left bank of the Rhine a prohibited military zone has now been extended to include the whole of the Baltic and North Sea coasts, both sides of the Polish Corridor, the Lithuanian frontier and the whole of the Silesian frontier adjoining Czechoslovakia. The effect of these additions is to form a forbidden belt along nearly half of Germany’s frontiers. It was reported on Monday that 300,000 men were estimated to be engaged on Germany’s new fortifications on the western frontier, creating a labour shortage in factories and the building trades. An indication of approaching German military activity is given by the fact that, as reported yesterday, 12,000 workmen, mostly carpenters, excavators, and masons employed on Berlin’s public building programmes, have been sent to work on the fortifications in the past few days. It is understood that Field-Marshal Goering gave the men no option. Between 50,000 and 60,000 men are also reported to have been conscripted from throughout Germany for the same purpose, and farmers near Berlin have been ordered to complete their harvest before August 15 in order that the military authorities may use their horses.