GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1939, Page 7

GERMAN OFFENSIVE

ANTICIPATED ON WESTERN FRONT Huge Force Assembled m Rhineland TROOPS MASSED NEAR NEUTRAL FRONTIERS VISCOUNT GORT VISITS BRITISH UNITS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright.) I PARIS, October 27. M, Charles Morice. writing' in the “.Petit Parisien,” says everything^suggests that this is the eve of Hitler’s big' offensive. Between 75 and 80 German divisions are massed in the Rhineland, shock troops are in position, tanks and anti-tank weapons are ready behind the front line and aviation concentrations are completed. The German General Stall has evidently given a last-minnie overhaul to the formidable war machine at General von llrauchitsuh’s disposal. Headquarters are installe-d in a small town where Mr Chamberlain met Hitler last year (presumably Godesburg).

It is reliably stated that Germany has concentrated 32 divisions in the region of Pirmasens and 18 neat the Dutch frontier. Four army corps, each of three divisions, face Switzerland between Basle and .Lake Constance, and three others are installed between Lake Constance and the junction of the Italian and Swiss frontiers. Though there was a brief spell of fine weather in France yesterday, the latest French war communique again refers to heavy rain and snow*in the region of the southern portion of the Rhine, which had risen by another 22 inches. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, Lord Gort, left his headquarters for the front line yesterday to inspect a battalion of Highlanders, and to ascertain how the troops had fared in the bitterly cold weather of the last few days. The first falls of snow of the winter were reported in England yesterday. NAZI THREAT BELGIAN NEUTRALITY QUESTIONED. BERLIN. October 27. The official radio repeated the assertion by the newspaper “Nachtausgabe" that Germany would have to consider whether the Belgian attitude can be regarded as neutral, giving as the reason for the warning alleged anti-Ger-man propaganda in the Belgian newspapers which.“is naturally paid-for by British money.” NOT ALARMING . ACCORDING TO BRITISH AUTHORITY. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 27. A high authority considers that the German concentrations near the coast of the North Sea arc not alarming and adds that such movements are frequent. Nor should the cutting of telephone wires cause apprehension.

SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS AT.STANDSTILL ON WEST FRONT. RHINE RISING RAPIDLY. (Received This Day. 10.40 a.m.) PARIS, October 27. Severe weather has brought to a standstill operations on the Western Front. The Rhine rose 221 inches yesterday. A French official communique states: "In the course of the night there was local activity of reconnaissance units.” GERMAN REPORT ‘ (Received This Dav, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. October 27. A German communique states that there has been lively artillery fire between the Moselle and the forest of Warndt. Elsewhere there has been local activity. ■