1940-01-15 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 15, 1940.,

Troops At Alert Stations On The Western Front

ALL B.E.F. LEAVE

CANCELLED

SUDDEN CANCELLATION OF ALL LEAVE TO THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES OF AN IMPORTANT NATURE IN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM, WITH THE ROAR OF GUNS ALONG THE MAGINOT LINE SWELLING TO A CRESCENDO, HAVE MADE THE WEST- ERN FRONT THIS WEEK-END THE FOCUS OF ALL EYES.

MYSTERY

PLANES

BOMB

SWEDEN

Stockholm, To-day. Mystery planes have been dropping bombs on Swedish territory, at least fifty miles from the Fin- nish frontier.

The distance from the bor-

Reasons for the new vigilance are somewhat ob- scure, but they are partly explained by reports of extensive German troop movements, and as a result there has been unusual activity in the air, with extensive reconnaissance operations on both sides.

CAVALRY ON WESTERN FRONT

Paria, To-day.

It is reported that cavalry is now being quite widely used on the Western Front for patrol work and scouting in No Man's Land.

The cavalrymen are mostly Spahls from Algeria and Morocco. -Reuter.

GERMAN

Fears in Belgium and Holland that the blow appar-

ently intended on land by the German High Com- PRESSURE

A

mand may involve them are obvious from the

steps taken in unison in both countries, although IN DENMARK

official statements seek to minimise their im- portance.

Havas report states that the German radio has been alleging flights by Dutch planes over German ter- ritory, an allegation categorically denied at the Hague.

der seems to rule out possibi- Reuter's Paris correspondent states that some anxiety is felt in the Liege region where the troops are in a state of lity of an error.

readiness. German planes are flying over the region occasionally, at low altitude.

The Swedish Foreign Office, giving the details in an official statement, announced last night that unidentified planes flew over Swedish territory yesterday morning, including the archipelago between Haparanda Lulea.

and

A heavy fall of snow prevented identification.

Several bombs were dropped at Kallaz, six miles to the south-west of Lulea.

In a report from Paris, Reuter says | that artillery and the air forces have been showing much greater activity than the infantry in the last 24 hours, though the infantry have been carry- ing out their usual patrol reconnais-

sances,

The guns have been belching high explosive unceasingly both

The bombs exploded upon the ice. establish the origin of the bombs. Investigations are proceeding to Reuter.

These hardy bathers are members of and in winter, they continus: their meimming

Photo shown them enjoyin

(Air Mail. Copyright)

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") London, To-day. Several German high offil- cials, believed to have been despatched by General Goer- ing, have arrived in Copen- hagen by special plane, ac- cording to a report in the "Sunday Graphic.”

man

"

assurances

The paper suggests that the Ger- officials are entrusted with special mission to obtain to the east and to the west of the Vosges and north of Bitche, in from the Scandinavians that no Allied

their. troops will be allowed to cross areas where the guns have been firing a good deal in the past few territory on their way to Finland. days.

Germany is offering in exchange a There was much aerial activity, on guarantee not to invade Scandinavia both sides yesterday, German ma-and a promise of an early settlement chines made long reconnaissance flights of the Finnish war. Havas, into north-east France

Allied and

planes were busy over the German thought likely to have any great effect front lines, reconnoitsing and photo-on Holland's system of water defences. enough to pro- The ice may be strong graphing, while fighting planes tected them overhead.

allow the passage of a certain num- There was an unusually large number of men, but not material such as ber of fighting planes in the air.

LONG FLIGHTS Besides_British flights into German territory, French planes. made long reconnaissance flights over almost the whole of south Germany.

lorries, guns or tanks.

The War Office announces that leave service from the B.E.F. is temporarily suspended.

It is learned that men at present on leave will not be recalled but that no further leave will be granted for the

The frost prevailing in Europe, says Reuter's Paris correspondent, is not time being-Reuter.

GERMAN ACTIVITY ALONG DUTCH

AND BELGIAN BORDER

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Paris, To-day.

POLITICAL CIRCLES here learned with anxious in- terest the news of the Netherlands and Belgian moves for the protection of their frontiers. Precise information concerning the extent of the new German threat are not available, but it is pointed out that the German concentrations along neutral borders have not been reduced since November 11, 1939, and the troops are ready to launch an attack at a moment's notice.

It will be recalled that an attack on Holland was postponed some weeks ago when Berlin learned that Bel- glum was co-operating with' the Al- Hes for the defence of the

lands. and would allow no Nether

British and French troops for purpose.

of

this

tifë the Belgian and

Dutch

repe

of.

rized un

the

frontier... and othe; Netherlands rabid propagandá agàinet the Low Countries Parla political circles. wonder whether tha

Garman

from

throat. to::: Hólland-Llaz:seriously

· meant or whether It la Intended merely to divert - attention the real German-alma, which may bain Gentes), Kuropa.-

Reliable reports state, that military measures · have been" faken

Sloval

impor

been obser

rian

Moravia. Hayes,

ments