EUROPEAN SCENE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 22, 24 November 1939, Page 2

EUROPEAN SCENE

Wild Rumours Startling stories that Germany was preparing to break through Holland have been constant this week, but on November 13, the Premier of Holland, Baron de Geer, stated that there were no grounds for the wild rumours about an acute menace to Holland, most of which had come from foreign pressmen. Precautionary measures had been taken. All British and Americans were asked to leave Holland’ on November 11, and on that day Germany said she would respect Dutch and Belgian neutrality so long as Britain and France did the same. Clashes on the Dutch frontier were reported on November 10. One man was shot and others were said to have been kidnapped. Peace Move A new peace move, originated by King Leopold of Belgium and the Queen of Holland, was released on November 7. In his reply Mr. Chamberlain said: " Since we have been compelled to take up arms we will not put them down till we are assured that Europe is to be freed from the threats which have long paralysed the life of her peoples." The French reply admitted the high and worthy principles of the offer, but stated that peace would come when the injustices imposed on Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland had been repaired. King George’s reply, published on November 12, pointed out that Britain had gone to war to save the peace of Europe. He quoted Mr. Chamberlain’s words that we were fighting to be released "from the perpetually recurring fear of German aggression, so as to enable the peoples of Europe to preserve their independence and their liberties." Germany has also answered "No" to the proposals. Air Raids A German air raid on the Shetland Islands was reported on November 13. Bombs dropped on land, for the second time since war broke out. Two attacks were driven off. Amsterdam afterwards reported that three German airmen had been picked up at sea and interned; a fourth was found drowned. Earlier in the week reports from British pilots who had flown over Berlin were released. On November 11 six British airmen were reported prisoners of war in Germany. The Western Front Weather conditions and the peace proposals put forward by Holland and Beigium have apparently reduced activity on the Western Front. France has exPerienced the wettest autumn for 48 years. On November 13 French reports stated that their troops had occupied advance positions from which the enemy had retired. The Germans claim to have repulsed attacks near Pirmasens and taken some prisoners. Aircraft on both sides have made flights over enemy territory. The War at Sea German wireless reported the sinking of a British steamer of 14,000 tons; an official ‘British communiqué countered

this by stating that the vessel was the Ponzona, 1,346 tons. The German Government has instructed its warships not to interfere with the City of Flint, which unloaded her cargo at Bergen and is sailing for America. Berlin stated that 34 British and French ships, armed against submarines, will be treated as warships and attacked. On November 15 the British Admiralty announced the sinking of one of our destroyers by a mine. Seventy survivors were rescued,

Finland The negotiations between Russia and Finland have again been suspended, and on November 14 the Finnish delegation left Moscow. There is still hope of a settlement. The stumbling block is said to be Russia’s demand for a naval base in West Finland. Foreign observers state that a financial crisis is approaching in Finland. In Fighting Trim Mr. Winston Churchill reviewed the first ten weeks of the war on November 13. He stated that Britain had got herself into full fighting trim, that the Uboats had been controlled, and that 2,500 British trading ships were constantly at sea. A Five Years’ War Herr Hitler’s speech at Munich on November 8 lasted for 50 minutes and was filled with bitter references to England. It contained no reference to

France. He stated that Germany was prepared for a war lasting five years, and that she would never capitulate. Hitler was speaking at the anniversary of the Beer-garden Putch of 1923. Mr. Fraser in France The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, visited the New Zealand antitank unit in England this week. At the time of going to press he was returning from France, in company with other Dominion Ministers, where he had met General Gamelin and M. Daladier at French headquarters. Mr. Fraser also met Lord Gort and other officers of

the British Forces in the field, and ‘paid a visit to Royal Air Force headquarters in France. Neutral Losses Neutral shipping has suffered heavily since the outbreak of war. Official losses up to Nov. 13 were: Norway, 9 ships sunk; Greece, 4 ships; Denmark, 3 ships; Sweden, 7 ships; Finland, 5 ships; Belgium, 2 ships; and Holland 2 ships; making a total of 80,000 tons. Explosion at Munich The sensation of the week was the reported attempt on Herr Hitler’s life at a Munich beer-hall on Nov. 9. Hitler had left some minutes before. the bomb exploded. Six people were killed and 60 injured. The world press is sceptical of the bomb explosion, and some newspapers suggest that it was an attempt to rouse popular fury and support for Herr Hitler. A quarter of an hour after

the explosion the full story was released, Large sums were offered for informa tion leading to. the arrest of the perpetrators., ; No Rationing Mr. Winston Churchill stated on Nov. 8 that 10 million tons of cargo had reached Britain in the first eight’ weeks of the war and that less than 250,000 tons had been lost. Full rationing. is not yet to be introduced into Britain, Only petrol is to be rationed. | Gallant‘New Zealand Pilot An unnamed. New Zealand pilot: battle with a fast enemy plane, at ¥ height of. five miles, was reported .o Nov. 9. He brought down one of the latest and fastest German machines after a grim ‘struggle, nearly colliding in mid-air with the enemy. plane. . Secret Weapon An Admiralty report stated that the British Navy’s secret weapon for the destruction of U-boats was worrying the German High Command. The German Navy was now laying mines in. certain areas in defiance of the rules of warfare. : Plot Frustrated An official message from South Africa on Nov. 9 stated that a Nazi plot was frustrated there at the outbreak of war. Preparing the Zoo ' ‘When war broke out the authorities .in London were concerned about the inhabitants of the Zoo, in Regent's Park. An enemy air raid might liberate some of the dangerous animals. Several of the more valuable were transferred to Whipsnade Park, outside London, but poisonous adders were killed with chloroform, The reptile house at the London Zoo contains many huge pythons, which live in specially warmed houses. By reducing the temperature they were forced into a state of coma and easily bundled into crates. The deadly black widow spiders, whose poison can wreck a man’s nervous system in a few minutes, were destroyed -by giving them a dose of chloroform. ,