NORMAL ACTIVITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1939, Page 7

NORMAL ACTIVITY

ON WESTERN FRONT . L — ARTILLERY ON BOTH SIDES BUSY. CONTACT WITH ENEMY PATROLS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.0 a.m.) PARIS, September 22. ' A communique states: “There is activity with our contact elements in the regions south of Saarbrucken and east of the river Blies; also artillery action on both sides at the front. BRITISH TROOPS REPORTED IN GOOD HEART. LONDON. September 21. “The British troops in France are in fine condition and in good heart,” said the Secretary of War, Mr Hore-Bel-isha, on returning to London after meeting Viscount Gort, M Daladier, and Marshal Gamelin. DUTCH DEFENCES WORK BEING PRESSED ON WITH VIGOUR. CONSTRUCTION OF FORTIFIED BARRIER. LONDON, September 22. The British United Press correspondent in Amsterdam reports that despite the German denials of any intention to violate the Dutch neutrality, Holland is pressing on .more vigorously with the fortifications on the eastern frontier. Thee defence lines are being constructed with the object of forming a better barrier than by the methods of mining bridges and bringing down trees. Th main roads of the southern part of the frontier cannot be flooded as in the north centre, but large reservoirs that are being constructed would be filled with water and used in the event of an invasion. Inhabitants of the large eastern towns expect to be evacuated. Signposts and other indicators have been removed at the crossroads near the frontier. Pitiful scenes are accompanying the evacuation of the older inhabitants of the German city of Aix-la-Chapelle. states a message from Brussels. The Nazi police are forced to intervene as much as three times before it is possible to separate the tearful families on the station platforms. Rationing was enforced in the city before the war, but families are already unable to procure the meagre amounts detailed on their cards. The arrival of troops waiting to be sent to the Saar front is worsening the situation. BERLIN LIT AGAIN NO LONGER AFRAID OF AIR RAIDS. LONDON, September 22. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Amsterdam correspondent says that Berlin streets were illuminated last night for the first time since the Polish conflict. The reason given, according to “Algemeen Handelsbald,” is that there is now no danger of air attacks from the east and those from the west can be repulsed. FOUL FIGHTING BY GERMANS ON WESTERN rKUNi. TRAP MINES AND OTHER TRICKS. LONDON, September 21. “The Times” Paris correspondent recounts that the Germans are using old tricks employed in the Hindenburg Line in theii’ retreats on the Western Front. Mines are concealed under steel helmets, exploding when the helmets are picked up, and others detonating when the door-handles of abandoned cottages are turned. Germans buried a French officer killed during an attack, erected a tomb and laid a wreath, and then exploded a mine when the French, who were counter-attacking, reached the grave and knelt helmetless to pay homage to their comrade. The French are gradually clearing up the hidden traps.