THE CHINA MAH. TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1936.
EUROPE ON VERGE OF WAR FOLLOWING THE RHINELAND CRISIS
BELGIUM
MAINZ
FRANCE
STRASBOURG
The manning of the frontier forts to fall strength was ordered by the French miktary heads, following Germany's action last month in sending her armies into the formerly demilitarised zone along the Rhine. Our photograph' shows French troops marching during the recent manoeuvres, with bristling bayonets forming an impressive background.
Commander-in-Chief
of
the
French armies, General Maurice G. Gamelin, was among those who conferred with the French Foreign Minister. M. Pierre Flandin, in connection with Ger- many's latest warlike gesture- the military ocenpation of the Rhineland.
The surprise movement of German troops into the demilitarised Rhineland zone and Chancellor Adolf Hitler's dramatic de mand for German arms equality brought Europe to a new crisis on March 7 last, the entire continent trembling on the verge Our map shows of war. For the first time since the World War German and French troops faced each other across the Rhine. the Rhineland territory. Photographs show a section of Germany's highly trained and efficient army, the Hohenzollern Bridge over the Ehine at Cologne, and Herr Hitler in a speaking pose.
UNITED FRONT
IN FRANCE
"A Revolutionary
Government ?
SOCIALISTS STATE THEIR TERMAS
"CHINA MAIL" SPECIAL
Paris, To-day.
The establishment at an early date of a revolutionary Goverz- the ment in France. based on "Popular Frou*" and including Socialist Ministers, was predicated by the Secretary-General of the French Socialist Party. M. Paul at Faure, in a speech delivered
the city of Bordeaux, in which]
the he declared that should
Radical Socialists assume power and invite the Socialists to colla- Socialists borate with them, the would be prepared to accept the all invitation, on condition that the groups belonging to the Po- also the pular Front and hence
Communistsaccepted their share
of the responsibility in forming
the new Government-
the
123-
When the Socialists enter Government. said M. Faure, their programme will include the tionalisation of the Bank of France and of the whole system of credit. as well as a prohibition against the manufacture and sale of arms by private persons.-Trans-Ocean Service.
MENACE FROM THE AIR
British Faith In Pacts
In
a- House answer yesterday,
With Swastika banners fring. Nazi storm-troopers enter the gate of Cologne fortress as Germany sent her armed forces into the demilitarised Rhineland section. This photograph, rushed from -Berlin to London by telephoto, was radioed to America.
England heard the French posi tion in Germany'a sudden rearm- ing of the demilitarised Rhine- land, from Charles Corbin, French Ambasador to England
He discussed the procedure to be followed at Genera with Bri- tain's Foreign Minister, Mr. Anthony Eden.
The motivating forces behind Germany's occupation of the demilitarised Rhine- land territory are contained in this group, suapped in informal conversation at, an Chancellor Adolf Hitler is on the right; to the left army conference at Hanover. to face.
Our
is Lieutenant-General Werner von Blomberg, Reich Minister of War General End
Fricherr von Fritsch, German Chief of Staff; and with his back to the camera is General Lieutman, a high ranking` German military official
and the hurried With the occupation of the demilitarised Rhineland zone by German troops
were face manning of the French border fortifications, German and Preach soldiers across the boundary last month, in some cases within pistol range, as Europe talked war. photographs show, top, French troops leaving for the "front" in recent war manoeuvres; below, a German regiment at ease after a long march.
AMNESTY IN BULGARIA
Decrees Signed By King Boris
London, To-day.
of Commons the Foreign
→ CHINA MAIL" SPECIAL Secretary said that the Govern-
Sofia, To-day. ment desired by every practical
On the occasion of the Easter means to avert the menace of at- tack from the air. In the existing festivals of the Orthodox Church, circumstances they considered that King Boris has signed an amnesty this would best be met by the for 341 people sentenced by civil conclusion of an air pact and the and 142 sentenced by military! tribunala. Some 317 prisoners limitation of air armaments..
It would be recalled that. His were released immediately and 24 were commuted Majesty's Government proposed at death sentences the Disarmament Conference that into imprisonment for life, while the best possible scheme should the remaining sentences were re- be worked out for the complete diced-Trans-Ocean Service. abolition of military aircraft,
which should be dependent on the tion with an air pact or by other effective supervision of civil avia-means, the Government would eon- tinue to work for the limitation In another reply Mr. Eden re-jof national forces. British Wire peated that, whether in conjunc-fless Service.
HOLLAND
FRANCE
STRASBOURG
RUSSIA 1,3000
ITALY 1200000
COMPARATIVE SIZE
OF
WELL MEÐ A
THE STANDING ARMIES GREAT EUROPEAN POWERS.1
GERMANY
FRANCE GREAT 650,000 600,000 BRITAN
400,000
- 5800X AIRPLANE STRENGTH
TITALY 1500
GERMANY,
(Left) A map of the Rhinelanil section of Germany, shaded area indicating the zone demilitarised by the Versailles. Treaty and Locarno Fact, Into which Germany sent her armed forces last month to threaten the peace of Europe. (Centre) A view of Cologne, key city of the Rhineland, in the heart of the zone demilitarized by the Versailles Treaty and: Locarno Pact,' now occupied by German troops as the result of Herr Hitler's latest surprise move." A section of the Lamona Cologne cathedral can be seen at the right. (Right) This diagram gives an idea of the comparative strength of "major European Powers, in armies, reserves and in the air. Herr Hitler can master more men: than can France, but the ale strength of Germany remains an unknown quantity,
MARXIST MOVE IN SPAIN
Soviet Republic Foreseen
FIERY SPEECH BY SOCIALIST LEADER
** CHINA MAIL" SPECIAL
Madrid, To-day.
The creation of a Spanish Soviet Republic constitutes the common aim of the united Socialist and Communist front, wns the de- claration made by the leader of the
Socialist Party in Spain, Senor Largo Caballero, in the course [of a Gery speech delivered at the local bull-fighting arena before an audience of upwards of 30,000 persons, which included large par- ties of the "Socialist and Com munist Militia" in uniform
The movement aiming at the formation of a great united Marx- jist front, destined to transform (the existing Spanish State into a {Soviet Repablic at an early date, had already made immense pro- gress, according to the speaker, who affirmed that this development would be checked neither by bayonets nor by any other measures which the Premier, Dan Azana, might devise. No power.on earth, jsaid the speaker, could prevent the Spanish working classes from gaining control of the State, and the present Government presented only the last effort to save capita- lism from its fate.
Meanwhile the official paper, Gazeta de Madrid, has published a Government decree officially BA- nouncing the previously reported postponement of the municipal. elections throughout the country, which were to have taken place on April 14-Trans-Ocean Service.