1939-04-18 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 18, 1939

NAZI GUARDS CLASH WITH RHINE PEASANTS Siegfried Line Disturbances: Growing Friction

Fortifications Not

Yet Complete

The construction of the Siegfried Line of for- tifications along Germany's Western frontier has led to considerable difficulties between the Nazi au- thorities and the Roman Catholic peasantry of the Rhineland.

In the country districts near Cologne, black- uniformed Nazi Guards from other parts of Ger- many have been drafted into the fortified areas to supervise the civil population and to take precau- tions against espionage. Affrays between these Guards and the peasants have become an almost daily occurrence..

On one occasion a wedding party at the village of Schmidt, in "the Eifel Hills, was invaded by foúr Guards, who demanded drinks. The peasants refused to serve them and the Nazis drew their revolvers.

The wedding guests drew their knives and a fight ensued. Seven persons were severely injured be- fore the peasants withdrew, carry- ing their wounded away over the fields.

POLICE REFUSE TO ACT The local police were called on to intervene, but refused on the pre- text that the Nazi Guards had police powers.

GIVING EUROPE

WIDE BERTH

Washington, Apr. 11.

The State Department revealed to-day that the number of Ameri- cans travelling to. Europe, this coming summer will be very much lower than last year, according to the number of applications for passports-Havas.

FORTY-THREE KILLED IN U.S. TORNADOES

„NEW YORK, TO-DAY.

AT LEAST 43 WERE KILLED AND, 170 INJURED BY TORNA- DOES WHICH SWEPT FIVE SOUTHERN STATES.

Thousands of acres in the Ohio lowlands have been submerged, and relief organisations are bringing help to the stricken areas.--Router.

JAPAN AND THE CHINESE

MEASURES COMPLETED IN

NETHERLANDS AGAINST ATTACK OFFENSIVE

London, April 10.

All' frontier districts in Holland aro under the absolute control of the army to a depth of 50 kilometres from the German border, the Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Express announced to-day.

All leaves in the army and navy have been cancelled, the paper Bridges have been mined and dams prepared in such a manner as to be in a position to flood one-third of the country, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Hague, within a few hours. Havas.

added.

י

Similar incidents are continually allowed a profit of 20 per cent. on taking place. The peasants are the value of the materials they growing more and more exasperat-[used. The materials, however, were ed.

provided by the State, so that it The introduction of some 500,000 labourers into the Rhineland to was to the advantage of each con- build the fortifications has brought tractor to be as wasteful as pos- little economic advantage to the sible. local enhabitants. The labourers live in enormous barracks, with

The result was that enormous

I.L.P. MAY JOIN WITH LABOUR PARTY AGAIN

London, Apr. 10.

Shanghai, To-day. Japanese quarters admit

that

any

the Chinese forces have under- taken offensive movements recently but claim that such movements are now dying down and that, in case, they actually favoured the Ja- panese troops since they enabled the latter to strike at large' Chinese concentrations instead of previously scattered units.

were,

The, various engagements report- ed from Japanese sources however, all insignificant, involving only a small number of troops and resulting in comparatively small losses. Trans-Ocean..

HEAVY FIGHTING NEAR KAIFENG

Loyang, To-day. Fierce fighting is raging in the

A resolution in favour of condi- their own canteens, and have no quantities of concrete, which should tional affiliation with the parent La- money to spend in the village have been used for the fortifica-bour Party was passed by a vote shops.

tions, were sold by the contractors of 69 to 40 at the annual congress That even the authoritarian coun-at-knock-down prices to local farm-of the Independent Labour Party tries are faced with the problem of ers. Now this trick has been dis-to-day. A resolution for.immediate profiteering in armaments has been covered and the work of construc-affiliation was rejected by a vote of | vicinity of Tunghsu, south of Kai- shown by the experience of the Ger- tion is being taken over directly 63 to 45,

The I.LP. National Council was man authorities in the construction by the military authorities. of the Siegfried Line?

According to `information the consequently invited to draft the Siegfried Line is very far from conditions on which the Party would completion. It cannot be compared agree to unite once again with the in strength with the French Ma-Labour Party, from whom it broke.

away in 1932-Havas, ginot Line,

20 PER CENT. PROFIT Various part of the line were al lotted to civil contractors, who were

TEOFANI CIGARETTES.

KING'S GUARD

VIRGINIA

MADE IN ENGLAND

A

Tin of 50-85 ets.

GOOD but INEXPENSIVE

Cigarette!

feng.

Japanese reinforcements from

Chenliu and Kihsien, were cut up by Chinese units in an ambuscade.

In south Honan, the Chinese have. started an attack on Chang- taikwan, on the Peiping-Hankow Railway north of Sinyang. They penetrated into the town--by the north gate, inflicting heavy casual- ties on the Japanese. Fierce fight- ing is now in progress in the out- skirts. Central News.

MOORISH TROOPS TO LEAVE SPAIN SOON

Madrid, Apr. 11.

Preparations are being made to send back home certain Moorish de- tachments which took part in the civil war, among Nationalist forces. Several battalions of these troops have left already for Cadiz by train, and will board vessels for Africa, their native land. Havas.