Tuesday.
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
January 16, 1940.
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Hongkong Telegraph.
Tuesday, January 16, 1940,
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Telephone: 26015
THE prefix "Special to the Telegraph"
WILL HITLER ATTACK
THE
LOWLANDS?
N unknown number of German divisions are now massed along the Dutch and Belgian
frontiers.
Scores of Nazi bombers are stand- ing by on the frontier aerodromes and the tension has been increased by the imposition of a strict military censorship between Germany and the Low Countries.
or
What does it all mean? Is Hitler plan- ning a Blitzkrieg through Holland Belgium-or both with the dual object of of outflanking the Maginot Line and establishing air and submarine bases on the Channel ports from which to launch his attack on Britain?
Such, in brief, is the strategy of the Von Epp plan, long toyed with by the German General Staff. But its chances of success are today small.
From the German point of view full success depends on a surprise attack of such force as to crush all opposition and enable German motorised columns swiftly to overrun the Low Countries.
But today surprise is impossible. From the French border to the Zuider Zce is a
ared by the Hongkong Telegraph to chain of fortifications manned day and
indicate news which is strictly copyright
under the provisions of the Tiscammast-night by Belgian and Dutch troops.
cations Ordinance, 1936. Such news a bears the Indication "UP is received to Jlưngkong on the date of publication by
ether wholly or in part without previous
Arrangement,
Hongkong's Flora
By comparison with the sunken moun-
the United Front Associations, who retains of steel and concrete which are the serve all rights and forbid republication.
Maginot and Siegfried Lines, the defences of the Low Countries are modest-pill- boxes and casemates, mined roads and Neither the Belgian nor the bridges. The despolling of the Colony's Dutch General Staffs believe that their de- flora by countless gangs of fire-fences are impregnable. They wood thieves has gained such are merely designed to hold up- a German attack until help nlarming proportions, that a
Such help would certainly order to suppress the evil, is come, for Fitt's. words that a hostile Power in occupation of urgently needed,
the parts of the Low Countries
S. MOUTRIE & CO., LTD. capably organised campaign in reaches them from the Allies.
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UNIENE
The defences of Belgium are stronger than those of Holland and ten times as strong, accord- ing to King Leopold, as they were in 1914, when the German onslaught caught Belgium nap- ping
It does not matter which dis-is a pistol pointed at the heart trict is considered, wherever of England" are as true today trees and shrubs grow, these as they were in the Napoleonic gangs of marauders are to be wars. seen, day in and day out. Those who enjoy the Colony's country- side are horrified at the ruthless damage which has been done. Where once existed shaded forestry paths winding along the billsides and through restful valleys, one now. gazes upon ugly barren vistas, acre upon acre. Surely something can be done even at this late juncture?
Old residents who take a pride in the Colony point out to the newcomer that when Britain began development the hillsides were bare, and that the present beauty is the result of an early afforestation policy which has had the effect of transforming the barren nature then exlating, to the pleasantly wooded.Colony. It is estimated that on the island
are
this
Belgium's defence lines, and there are many of them, pivot on the great and modernised fortress of Liege. Standing in the trough of the Meuse, along which all the Germanic in- vasions of history have come, Liege comprises à double ring of forts at a distance of six and twelve miles respectively from the city. A continuous line of anti-tank defences and wire en- tanglements girdles the city and each individual fort is sur- rounded
anti-tank by deep moats. Pill-boxes disguised as cottages and outhouses form the outposts.
Neutrality
THE
NORTH
SEA
The Hos
„ROTTERDAM)
Ghont
Ypres.
URUSSELS
A N
Milca
Mona
Namu
LOWLANDS
IDER:
Both Belgium and Holland are neutral States in this war. Dutch neutrality is not internationally guaranteed like that of Switzerland, Holland is free to act as she thinks fit. No Power has the right to come automatically. to her assistance.
The Belgian position is different. She had, till 1930, a military agreement with France. But France and Britain still guarance her neutrality. There are, at present no military agreements between Holland and Belgium,
Both Powera are signatories of the Oslo Convention, together with Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Luxembourg, for the folnt discussion of economic problems.. History
Belgium acceded from the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland) after a revolution in August, 1830. Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg tuar elected King 1831. Succeeded by Leopold II, (1865-1000), Albert (1909-1934) and Leopold III. Belgian independence recognised by all States of Europe.st_Treaty of London, 1839. Language
There is no Belgian language, Northern half of Belgium is Flemish (Low Dutch) speaking, southern half is French speaking. This acction of the population is called Walloon.
Until 1914-19 war French was ofetal language. But in German occupied territory Flemish aspirations were encouraged.
Since that war the Flemings have gained ground. Flemings are mostly farmers with high birthrate, Walloons mostly industrial workers with low birthrate, Flemings would now prefer reunion with Holland. Walloons look to France. But Holland prefers Belgium to remain an independent buffer State. Defence
Belotan Army is 800,000 war strength, Dutch is 250,000. Holland's first line of defence is behind the Rivers Yssel and Maas (see map). Beyond this, protecting Amsterdam and Rotterdam, is a 25-mile-wolde band of floodable country.
Belgium's first line of defence on the north is behind the fortified Albert Canal between Antwerp and Maastricht. To the south-cast the Aret line is formed by the forts round Liege and the hilly country of the Ardennes. Behind lies the strong line of forts on the left dank. of the Meuse. *************
If the Germans break through Holland, Belgium will fight is planned as a strategic trap. trenches linking the forts and along the new Albert Canal Belgium's army of 500,000, pill-boxes,
the
frontier pill-boxes are manned, the Dutch army stands guard.
Should the Germans, strike, the Dutch will make their main stand along, the Rivers Maas and Yssel, which flow parallel. to the frontler.
If forced to retreat, the Dutch will call on their oldest ally the scand flood a 25-
of mile-wide belt
country stretching from the Zuider Zee. round Utrecht to the River Waal and the North Sea.
The hope is that Hitler's chariots will be caught in these waters to become a target for But if the British bombers. Germans ever get as far as this into Holland, it will leave them free to wheel southward against Belgium along three main roads -from Nijmegen to Breda, from Venlo to Turnhout, and from Venlo to Maastricht.-
One possibility is that Ger- many may be content with attacking "Holland, in which case Belgium might still remain neutral.
In face of reverses, or the. continued stalernate On the Western Front, Hitler, may be tempted to try to repeat the great flanking movement through heutrality which so nearly succeeded for Germany
alone, several thousand people
in engaged daily
which
stretches along her mobilised within four days of
In 1914. As in Belgium, all the frontier nefarious practice. There is no northern frontier eastward to the outbreak of war, is now roads, bridges rind dykes of doubt that many of them are Antwerp, and is well fortified, completing digging of Holland are mined. All the taking advantage of the high Where the Albert Canal meets price of firewood, and find it the Meuse is the new Eben
Emael fort, cut into the solid) lucrative business in supplying cliff face with guns command- firewood merchants from the ing the spot where the Germans hills and dales of the Colony. crossed in 1914.
Every frewood merchant should be licenced, and called
If the Germans strike from upon at any time to reveal the the cast, the Belgians will fight source of supply. The gangs on another fortified line which themselves should be dealt with radiates south from Liege.
the Germans break! as sternly as is any other class I Should
The
S. E.
ex-Kaiser may
have to move
of thief, for unless effective through that he they would: WHILE Holland
find themselves in the Ardennes,
abic.
whose cliffe form
stands by
to open the flood-gates to measures are taken immediately, a vast salient of country which let loose a 30-miles tidal wave the damage will become irrepar-la backed by the River Mouse, as a barrier against invasion of
magnificent her lowlands, the
ex-Kaiser of considers the possibility There is some sympathy for line of defence.
The whole of this vast salient having to move house in case the beggars who collect a few bundles of dry sticks, but is time that residents who have his countrymen should cross sentiment cannot be tolerated the interest of the Colony at the frontier.
I have just when it means the gradual dis-heart, should make the strongest
representations to made o Ughtning figuration of the appearance of possiblo the Colony, The Botanical and Government in order to save the tour of the area
Colony from the wholesale wood which Forestry Department should
thioving which has become. 8o collaborate with the Polico in general. It is so widespread, in stamping out this scandal, other-fact, that a fow constables wise we might just as well save scattered about on normal duty the money which la spent in are almost powerless to cope planting trees and shrubs. There with the problem. A Forestry is no excuse whatever, for the Preservation Corps appears to be existing state of affairs, and it needed.
would ba
flooded In the event of trouble. In the midst of
that area is the Castle of Doorn): hetuary of the 80-years-old ex-
Kaiser.
Only last June the residents.
of Doorn gave the ex-Kaiser a summer-house. Here he is drinking their health at the .presentation.
The Dutch authorities smiled when they heard that this white-haired old man who led his people to war 25 years ago was now busy building underground air-rold'shalters.
They immediately despatched a courier
fer Inviting him to take up re- sidence, at the Hague should investor seem.Imminent.
It la "a tremendous scheme that Holland has embarked upon to pro- {tect her country.
To-night, at key points of the canals, elaborata system of dykes,
and waterways-memorials of her ceaseless fight with the sea-senti- nela stand waiting with wrenches, crowbars, and sticks of dynamita for a. broadcast word which would em- power them to send a vast tidal wave of water. from the Norlin Sea to higher elevations of the Belgian frontier.
The
The wave would sweep over fields and meadows, pour through vilinges, and isolate ancient towns, such as Utrecht, where I am writing this message.
When the wave reached the Belgian frontier, other commanda
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