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French seizures total 2,694 tons during the week.
On the 5th March there were 21 neutral ships in Contraband Control bases in the United Kingdom, of which 15 had been there for four days or less. This total included 12 Dutch, 6 Norwegian, 2 Belgian and 1 Swedish.
The embargo on German exports which, pending the outcome of the negotia- tion of a war trading agreement with Italy, had been suspended in so far as it related to German shipments of coal to Italy, came into force on the 1st March. A number of Italian ships, which have sailed from Rotterdam since that date with cargoes of German coal have been detained in the Downs.
Western Front.
MILITARY SITUATION.
16. No events of importance have occurred during the period under review, though there has been an increase in the number of enemy patrols in the region between the Mosel and the Warndt. Air reconnaissance flights have reported troop concentrations in the regions of Euskirchen, Duren, Kreuznach and Trier.
of a
17. On the morning of the 5th March the enemy made a raid on a platoon post of the British infantry battalion holding the Ligne de Contact sector of the Saar front. The raid was successful, sixteen prisoners were taken, the platoon commander and one other being killed. The post was recaptured, some casualties being inflicted on the enemy.
Germany.
18. The distribution of German divisions is believed to be as follows:-
Cav. Armd. Lt.
Mot.*
Inf.
Total.
Western Theatre
Central Germany
Baltic Coast, including Corridor and
East Prussia
Poland, excluding Corridor
1
Bohemia-Moravia.
Austria
Slovakia
Totals
5
3
7
85/95 10/20
1
320 200
101/111 10/20
10
10
21
7
4
2
6
4
7
144
163
* Including three Police and S.S. Divisions.
German-Belgian Frontier.
19. A further report speaks of the partial closure of the German-Belgian frontier from the 15th March, 1940. It is considered that these activities represent a progressive tightening up of routine control, based upon security considerations, rather than an indication of offensive intention.
German-Luxemburg Frontier.
20.
It is reported that fortification work, which had been interrupted by the cold weather, has been resumed on the line Sinz, north of Kreuzweiler.
German fortifications south of German-Danish Frontier.
21. Several previous reports of the construction by the Germans of fortifica- tions south of the German-Danish frontier have now been confirmed. It is not known whether field fortifications or a permanent system like the Siegfried Line are in question. The general line of these fortifications is believed to run from Flensburg westwards. The works are stated to be five kilometres in depth. No other details are yet available.
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