THREAT TO HOLLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1940, Page 7

THREAT TO HOLLAND

REPORTED PREPARATIONS BY NAZIS BOATS TO CARRY TROOPS OVER FLOODED AREAS. CONCENTRATION ON FRONTIER. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON. January 7. The “Sunday Graphic’s” correspondent at The Hague reports that the Germans are ready to invade the lowlands, .overcoming the defensive inundations with aluminium boats of a new type. A high Dutch authority said: “In the past month the Germans have leavened the heavy troop concentrations on our borders with special companies each of which has 10 boats with outboard engines. Each boat carries 15 men with their arms and draws 11 inches of water, thus being easily navigable in the inundations, which are 15 to 30 inches deep. There are hundreds of these boats on’ the frontier.” The German troop ' masses on the frontier, which have been unchanged in the last two months, can be moved to any offensive in 48 hours. The Berlin Press attacks Belgium for allowing the newspapers to explain the British and French plans to assist Belgium in the event of an attack. "This is an unneutral act, preparing the population's minds for a British and French invasion of Belgium." the Press declares. NO WEAKENING DEFENCE OF INTEGRITY OF NETHERLANDS. AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright THE HAGUE. January 5. It is officially stated that any aggression affecting the integrity of Dutch territory will meet with the utmost armed resistance of which Holland is capable. The announcement adds: "For some time tendencious news has been circulating in foreign Press, creating doubts regarding Holland’s firm resolution to resist by every means at her disposal any foreign attack. The integrity of the Netherlands is not a matter on which there could be negotiations.".