RIVERS STILL RISING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1939, Page 5

RIVERS STILL RISING

CONDITIONS ON WESTERN FRONT SOME REASONS FOR GERMAN INACTIVITY. HITLER'S NEED OF SWIFT SOLUTION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. October 22. The Paris radio announced < today that the .Rhine is still ■ rising and is further threatening the .Siegfried Line. The Brussels correspondent of “The Tinies’’ said yesterday that the Moselle River had exceeded last year's highest ilood level by 1!) inches. Steady rain was aggravating 1 he situation. The French general headquarters’ communique yesterday morning said: “The night has been quiet. Patrols have been active and there has been harassing fire by artillery.” The German High Command communique stated: "There has been livelier artillery, scouting and troop activity on several of the front sectors of the border region between Moselle and Saarbrucken. The enemy has evacuated the Warndt Forest region with the exception of two hills close to the border. Other parts of the Western front are quiet except for minor disturbances by artillery fire." The Paris correspondent of the "New York Times." Mr Archambault, states that four hypotheses are advanced dealing with the failure of the Germans to continue their push last week: (1) Another peace offensive is being prepared directed at separating Britain and France, based on Berlin diplomatic action .and the phraseology of the Ger - man communique reviewing the military operations. It is rumoured that Herr Hitler, as the author regards it as a proclamation to the French nation. The references to the campaigns modest proportions and the fact that the Germans have rW>t crossed the frontier are interpreted as implying that a sort of truce exists which could more clearly be defined through conversations.

(2) The attack was a diversion while preparations were being made elsewhere. Activity in the Moselle sector and the evacuation of the villages on the Luxemburg border are quoted in this connection. (3) A German realisation of the strength of the French line resistance. . (4) The bad weather. THREAT TO HOLLAND. In ’ a dispatch to the "New York Times - ’ from London, ‘‘Augur - ’ states that the Netherlands before the end of the year may be the object of strong German pressure and be menaced by direct invasion. The merciless Allied anti-submarine campaign obliges Herr Hitler to think in terms of increased aerial warfare, but he is faced with the prospect of Allied aerial predominance 12. months hence and he must find a swift solution. If the Germans are able to cross or establish air-fields in Holland, the problem of the anti-British aerial attack would be simplified. There is also the dilemma for Britain, which would either bomb the innocent Dutch or allow German bases immunity from military action. Invasion of the Netherlands would be preferable to invasion of Belgium because France cannot cross neutral Belgium to aid the Netherlands. ■ NIGHT MODERATELY QUIET ON FRONT AS A WHOLE. (Received This Day. 9.50 a.m.) PARIS, October 22. A communique states that the night was moderately quiet on the Western front as a whole.

“QUEER WAR” ANTICIPATIONS IN GERMANY. GENERAL GAMELIN'S TACTICS. (Received This Day,. 11 a.m.) LONDON. October 22. The Associated! Press of America Berlin correspondent states that, emphasising what the German public feels is “a queer.war,” the Nazi High Command issued a communique stating that there had been no special developments on the Western Front except minor artillery activity, scouting and patrolling. Millions of Germans ask daily when Ihe Allies are going to strike and are beginning to believe that England and France will not attack and never intended to do so. The Exchange's military expert on the Western Front summing up the position, explains that General Gamelin did not wish to fight a battle in the advanced positions which were established after the offensive at the beginning of September and therefore has withdrawn his forces to positions close to the French frontier. in order to avoid meeting the attack which thr» Germans, for diplomatic reasons, would launch against, troops in their territory.