ANXIOUS FEARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 5

ANXIOUS FEARS

NAZI THREAT TO BELGIUM AND HOLLAND

Both Governments Taking Precautions

FRENCH NOTE SUSPICIOUS PORTENTS

ALLIES PREPARED FOR ALL EMERGENCIES

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, November 9. Belgian second-class reservists, estimated at 5000, have been called up, states a message .from Brussels. Aircraft, believed to be German, repeatedly violated Belgium’s neutrality and photographed fortified areas despite antiaircraft guns. The Belgians have been told for the first time that their country may be invaded by German forces, which tire massing on the'frontier. The population has been advised how 1o act in the event of aerial bombardment. Censorship has been imposed to prevent the spreading of alarmist reports. The Government regards the situation as more critical than at any other time since the outbreak 01. the war. The Netherlands are extending the flooded area. French military circles today said that the German troops on the Netherlands frontier have been considerably increased in the. last few days. The Amsterdam correspondent of “The 'rimes’’ also stales that the reports from the German frontier have been less reassuring in the last 24 hours. It is reported from Emmerich (Prussia) that two pontoon bridges are being built on the Rhine which would be easy to convey downstream to Holland. The “New York Times’ “correspondent, Mr Archambault, in a message from Paris, says there is a tendency to believe that German offensive operations are near. At least the following points seem to be confirmed: 1. French aerial reconnaissance over enemy territory has noted the arrival of reinforcements on the Rhine-Moselle front and important additions to the troops concentrated along the Netherlands border. 2. The German aeroplanes recently flying over Belgium most probably were engaged in reconnaissance work. 3. The Netherlands military authorities have reinforced and still are reinforcing their defensive waterline. 4. Allied forces along the Belgian frontier are fully prepared for all emergencies. The Copenhagen “Politiken’s” Berlin correspondent says that all German soldiers and air force officers who have been resting since their service in Poland are now ordered to rejoin their units. The Amsterdam correspondent of “The Times” says that observers felt the Belgian and Dutch sovereigns’ offer was an attempt to postpone Nazi pressure on neutrals to join Germany. Practical results were not expected. . . .