STRATEGIC FOREST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 5

STRATEGIC FOREST

FRENCH IN FULL POSSESSION. POSITION ON LUXEMBOURG BORDER. (Received This Day, 9 a.in.) PARIS, October 5. It is semi-officially stated that the French are in full possession of the Bourg Forest, between the Moselle and the Saar, and are thus in a better position to resist a possible German outflanking movement through Luxembourg. The “Petit Parisien's" military expert points out that violation of the neutrality of Luxembourg would shorten the German line in this sector to 30 kilometres, compared with the present 120 kilometres, but would mean the abandoning of part of the protection of the Siegfried line.

THREAT TO BELGIUM

GERMANY’S NEUTRALITY PLEDGE. TALK OF RELEASE “IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.” (Received This Dav, 9 a.m.) BRUSSELS, October 5. A Belga News Agency Berlin report states that under certain circumstances Germany would consider herself released from her neutrality pledge to Belgium. The report has caused considerable concern here.

REPORT DENIED

GUARANTEE TO BE UPHELD. (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m|) BERLIN, October 5. “We stand by our guarantee to Belgium. It is unconditional and there is no back door through which we can slip away from it.” declared a Government spokesman, commenting on the Belga Agency report. GERMAN CLAIAI DESTRUCTION OF ALLIED PLANES. (Received This Dav, 10.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 5. The Associated Press of America Copenhagen correspondent states that a German agency claims that the Nazis brought down 27 British and 45 French planes on the Western front during September,