FRANCE ON GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1939, Page 7

FRANCE ON GUARD

MOVEMENT OF AXIS TROOPS NOTED INSPECTION OF FRONTIER DEFENCES. POSITION TO MAKE WAR DEAD RISE FROM GRAVES. 3y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 30. Branco is looking to her defences as a result ol reports of the calling- up of German reservists and also of Italian troop trains movin'’', through the Brenner Bass says the Paris representative of the Associated Press of Great. Britain. Marshal Gamelin in inspecting the fortifications on the Italian frontier and Air Marshal Vuillemin is inspecting the Corsican air bases. “Le Journal” declares: "Our predicament is enough to make the one and a half million French war dead rise from their graves.”

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL SITUATION. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) PARIS, June 30. The Prime Minister, M. Edouard Daladier, has called the Council ' of Ministers together for tomorrow, to study the international situation, particularly as regards Danzig and the Soviet Pact negotiations. STATE OF TENSION PREPARATIONS TO MEET EMERGENCY. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) PARIS. June 30. M. Daladier conferred with Sir E. Phipps (British Ambassador). The President (M. Lebrun) is presiding over the meeting of Cabinet. There is a state of expectation and tension. If grave trouble eventuates, M. Daladier will mobilise all France’s forces and recall Parliament. Meanwhile, German troop movements are being watched closely. The French Ambassador at Warsaw conferred with M. Daladier. It is believed he brought the latest conditions under which Poland is prepared to negotiate in the tentative discussions which Poland and Germany have initiated, but .this is not confirmed. The Government has decided to speed up the construction of two new aircraft-carriers and two battleships, the Richelieu and Jean Bart.

WHAT HITLER WILL DO ACCORDING TO GERMAN OFFICIAL. DANZIG SOLUTION WITHOUT WAR. LONDON, June 30. A high German Government official told the Berlin correspondent of the British United Press that “Germany will not go to war against half the world for Danzig, which is already completely Nazi. Hitler will again show his ingenuity in solving this problem without war.”

POLISH CONCERN OVER NAZI PREPARATIONS IN DANZIG. AN OUTSPOKEN COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, June 30. Evidence that Germany will shortly call up further reservists coincides with increased pressure on the - Danzig-German frontier where the control has already been tripled, states the Paris correspondent of the British United Press. Six regiments of infantry arrived in Carlsruhe last night. Thirty thousand troops from Esen have been installed on the Saar frontier posts, and 32,000 motorised troops have reached the Rhineland in the past, two days. Observers report considerable troop movements in Kehl. Lastatt, Salzbach, Trier and Eifel. The authoritative Danzig journal “Vorposten” states: “We are convinced there will soon be a demonstration showing how little Britain and France are vvilling to support the Polish arrogance ” It urges the population to strengthen themselves in anticipation of the hour of decision, stating: “It is absolutely certain that this decision will be taken. The Fuehrer will set the date.” It adds: “Calm and strength will be particularly necessary in the next few weeks.’’ An official communique issued in Warsaw states: “It is no longer able to be doubted that despite Danzig’s denials, a Free Corps is organising in Danzig for which barracks have been requisitioned, quantities of frozen meat stored and tailors regimented for uni-form-making.” The communique's outspokenness surprised Polish political quarters, which interpreted it as meaning that Poland wil not passively watch the infiltration of East Prussian Nazis into Danzig.

VISIT BY HITLER IN LATTER PART OF MONTH. NO SPEECH AT LAUNCHING OF CRUISER. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) BERLIN'S. June 30. Herr Hitler is expected to visit Danzig between July 20 and 30. There may be earlier brief visits on the part of other Reich Ministers. It is stated that Herr Hitler is not speaking at the launching of the cruiser Bremen, partly because he desires to rest and partly because he does not desire to anticipate Germany’s reply to Britain's Naval Note.

REPORT DOUBTFUL. NOT CONFIRMED OR DENTED IN BERLIN. (Received This Dav. 10.40 a.m.) BERLIN. June 30. Officials refuse to deny the report that Herr Hitler is going to Danzig at the end of July, but say there is no reason to suppose that he will. The Fuehrer spent the day in Mun-

ich, inspecting plans for the forthcom ■ ing celebration of German art. Motorised units passed down the Unter Den Linden, attracting excited crowds. CALLED TO LONDON THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO POLAND. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) WARSAW. June 30. The British Ambassador. Sir Howard Kennard, is flying to London. It is believed that he is returning for important consultations regarding Danzig. SIGNIFICANCE DENIED (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY. June 30. Some newspaper prominence is given to a report that Sir Howard Kennard. British Ambassador in Warsaw, left for London by aeroplane, and his return is linked with other speculative reports regarding Danzig. Inquiries in official quarters show that Sir H. Kennard is due to commence his summer leave and the suggestion that he has been recalled for special consultations is denied. DANZIG CALM ANTICIPATION OF PEACEFUL ABSORPTION. (Received This Day. 10.40 a.m.) DANZIG. June 30. The city is normal. There are no signs of excitement, most of the population believing that absorption by the Reich without war is certain.