The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-03-03
DUTCH Do
NOT LIKE
GERMANS AIN|||.s
SEPARATED by ONLY 100
YARDS THEN PACE WAY
IN SILENCE
CBy Associated Press Cable. }

CBy Associated Press Cable.)
Amsterdam, Marhc 3.--The Dutch
and German soldiers who have beer
patrolling on opposite sides of the
boundary line since the war began
have been ordered to withdraw from
close contact on account Of the fact
that a number OF disagreeahle in
cidents have occurred. UP to .ae
beginning OF February the Dutch sol
diers and the Germans paced side By
side and carried on conversation. II
|appears that trouble sometimes arose
through the expression Of diverse
views so the commanders Of the pa
trolls have now separated the men by
a distance OF 100 yards. Between
|the small strip Of territory separat-
ing the Dutch from the German sem
tries no one is permitted to go ex-
cept on chance OF being immediately
Shot.
Behind the frontier line on both
sides have been erected field forti-
fications In the shape Of trenches and
gun emplacements. Those in Dutch
territory are so placed as to render
impossible any surprise inroad into
the Netherlands and they are defend :
ed by strong bodies Of troops. On
the opposite side in Belgium the
trenches face away from the Dutch
frontier, and are evidently intended
to offer shelter to the German army
in case 1t should find itself obliged
to retire from its present positions in
Flanders.
There is strong feeling among
the Dutch troops that the Germans
will be forced over the frontier in
Iimburg should the allied forces ev-
entually push them out of Belgium.
This little strip of Holland, forming a
sort of appendix to the south, Is
bounded on the west by Belgium and
on the east by Germany. 1t is very
narrow and would offer great tempt
alton to a retreatlng army trying to
get away from its pnrsuers. The
Dutch realize this and are desermin :
ed to oppose any such acton by ey-
cry means in their power.
lOn the other side of Holland the
greatest attention of the Ouch gov
ernment is directed toward the pre-
vention of attempts to smuggle con-
traband articles over the frontier
from Holland into Germany The at
tempts are frequent owing to the
profit attached to such transactions.
The precautions taken against such
runs are of he most extreme sew
rity. The frontier line is patrolled
night and day and the troops engaged
in this work are frequently changed
so that they may not become too in
timate with the inhabitants of the
frontier districts and SO be inclined
to display laxity in their vigilance.
While these efforts to maintain a
strict neutrality are maintainedthere
has been come criticism of the Dutch
government in consequence Of its ac-
tion in keeping such a large number
of troops under arms. Premier Cort
van der Linden, however, maintains
that the position taken up has been
the only correct one under the cir
oumstances and declares that the
government is sure that the Meth
erlands will, neither now nor in the
future, surrender her rights to any
one without struggle"
There is a strong movement among
a section Of the people in favor of an
appeal for Intervention in the inter
ests Of peace. There exists an AN
ii War League which recently has
displayed great activity and petitions
are placed everywhere for signature
asking the Queen of the Netherlands
to make some move in this direction