The Washington times., 1934-07-26
TROOPS GATHER
IN STRATEGIC
POSITIONS
Armed Forces Mass Near Ger
man Border, Despite Dec
Iaration of 'AIoof' Policy
BY WILLIAM PARKER
(COpyrIght, 1884, By International
NNWR SAFvlcAl


Copyright, 1884. by International
News SeFvice)
PARIS. July 26 U.N.SJ-n
the face Of the formal pose Of
calm and watchful waiting on the
part Of the government, suddenly
confronted by the Austrian crisis,
there is indication Of military
activity in France this afternoon.
Though the foreign office policy
for the moment is to hold aloot
and avoid all appearance Of inter-
vening in Austrian affairs or Of
addressing warning to Berlin,
the French Army does not intend
to be caught unprepared.
After learning Of the mobih7ar
ton Of the entire international
police force in the Saar Valley,
which is under League Of Nations
control, International News serv-
ice attempted to canvass the stu
alton along the German border
this afternoon.
Secrecy Is Rule
Sources usually informative re-
piled that q ban Of secrecy had
been imposed and that they were
unable to say anything with ref"
erence to troop movements or any
activities Of a military nature.
This was especially true at
Thionville, Just outside the famous
st. Mihiel salient, where the
American Army won its first great
triumph in France. Thlonvil1e Is
one Of Frances most important
military aviation centers.
Two or three infantry regiments
are always permanently garri.
soned there, and any forward
movement into Germany would
center on Thionville and the rich
Briey industrial basin. A wall OF
secrecy hid all military movements
in that region today.
French Vow Recalled
The feeling here is that popu.
lar Indignation against the Nazis
In Austria because Of the assaS'
Sination Of Chancellor Do1Huss
1gs sufficient to keep the Nazis IN
hand for the present and that
resentment abroad viii prevent
German Nazis from trying to
take advantage Of the disturbed
situation. A Foreign Office
spokesman was asked:
''What will France do in the
face Of her repeated deClara-
tiOnS that she would do every.
thing possible to maintain the
independence Of Austrian
He replied:
1--WE will cross no bridges unr
til We get to them"
Meanwhile the French Govern
ment is keeping in close contact
with the governments Of Great
Britain, Italy and the Little En-.
tente. France would like to view
the DollfuSS affair merely as an
isolated case Of assassination but
It was emphasized that If the
Nazis attempt another coup and 1t
succeeds, the situation would be
very serious and q course Of ac'
ton against Germany and Aus
tria would have to be decided upon
Immediately.
Tension Increases
Tension increased rather than
diminished as government Of
ficialS studied incoming dis
patches from Vienna, London
Rome and other European cen
ters today. Public feeling is one
Of dismay, particularly because
the Nazi'S abortive coup in Vienna
came so close on the heels Of
the French ministerial crisis
early this week. The two are
believed to be closely connected
It is the suspicion here that
the Austrian NaziS had counted
upon the overthrow Of the Dou
mergue Cabinet in France an6
0UpSO 70 CtShS dOV0Av0SS "a VAN
political confusion here By
launching a successful revolution
while French attention was di
Verted by domestic troubles.
New Sarajevo?
The Foreign Office today was
the scene Of the greatest &C
tivity since the occupation oi
the Ruhr. Phones were ringing
necessarily and reporters werC
besieging the Foreign Office
spokesman with the query:
'cIs this q new SarajevO?"
All the huge gates were shut
except one small door. closely
guarded by policemen who scan
ned the face Of every person WHIT
entered.
AANW NJ