ARMED DISPLAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1938, Page 5

ARMED DISPLAY

GERMAN MANOEUVRES ON BIG SCALE MORE THAN MILLION MEN CALLED UP. ANTICIPATION OF GENERAL MOBILISATION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 15. With the calling up of 750,000 reservists and with the announcement that all soldiers who have completed their two years’ service will not be discharged for an indefinite period, Germany, according to the estimate of the Berlin correspondent of the British United Press, will have more than 1,000,000 men in her autumn manoeuvres. The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the manoeuvres will last 10 weeks, during which time the areas affected will be virtually under martial law. The belief is growing in Bavaria that the preparations are. preliminary to general mobilisation, owing to far-reach-ing military measures. All ex-army officers under the age of 65 have been ordered to report to the army for registration. All men under the age of 65 have been forbidden to leave Germany. All able-bodied ex-service men, who served as technicians in the air force, have been enlisted as reservists regardless of their age.

Railway services and excursions have been curtailed in many parts of Germany, and railwaymen’s holidays .have been cancelled. Suburban motor-bus services have been reduced and their drivers requisitioned for the army. Owners of lorries and cars have been ordered to keep their machines in good running order. A thousand young women have been ordered to register at labour offices, where they were warned to hold themselves ready for duty if required. Several hundred Munich doctors and nurses have been ordered to report to the military. The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” after a visit to the frontier, says that there are no signs of mobilisation, but every bridge has been newly mined for half the width of the roadway and rendered impassable. Tank traps and land mines have been prepared at strategic points. Czechoslovakia is clearly taking every precaution against a surprise. The “News Chronicle” says that the real feeling in British official circles is one ■of serious apprehension. The German mobilisation is considered to be out of all proportion if she wishes merely to attempt the intimidation of London, Paris and Prague. The Rome correspondent of the “News Chronicle” states that the newspaper “Popolo d’ltalia” says that preparations have been completed for the immediate closing of all alpine passes in the event of an emergency.