WAR MATERIAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1939, Page 5

WAR MATERIAL

BIG GAINS BY GERMANY FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA AEROPLANE PRODUCTION INCREASED. SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION .MAY BE SPEEDED UP. By Tel egraph--Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 27. New estimates of Germany’s war potential as a result of her seizure of Czechoslovakia continue to appear every day in the British Press. The latest indicate that Germany’s aeroplane production will be raised from its present level of 800 to 1100 planes a month as a sequel to Germany’s control of the extensive Czech aeroplane industry and huge supplies of spare parts, light metals, and raw materials. Others believe that the Nazis are likely to reply to Britain’s criticism by giving orders immediately that the programme of submarine construction should be speeded up. so that Germany will attain complete parity in submarine tonnage with Britain early in 1940, and by denouncing the Naval Agreement with England signed by Herr von Ribbentrop in 1935. This would mean the beginning of a new naval building race, similar to that under Admiral von Tirpitz, which was one of the underlying reasons for the Great War. It is believed that such a decision would be a direct warlike threat to Britain, and an admission that Germany considers war inevitable.

CZECH NAZIS REPORT OF ARREST DENIED. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) PRAGUE, March 27. Reports that M. Gajda and other prominent Czech Nazis are under arrest are denied but it is stated that a guard of honour has been posted at M. Gajda’s residence.