Evening star., 1938-09-07
RESERV|STS RUSH
TO MAG|NOT LINE
France Also Places Part of
Marseil|es Under Military
Control.
BACKGROUND

~SbsSI Wis
BACKGROUND
Strained Sudeten situation In
Czechoslopnkid and Germanys
movement OF 10000 troops into her
neD Sie0tried line OF tortitcdtions,
just across the Rhine from Frances
Maotnot detenses, has created
alarm in France and has caused
the government to order out re-
serUists ,Dho only seperal weeks
ago completed their t,0o years OF
training. The order has been er-
explained as a precautionary
measure" and not mobilization.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, Sept. IA new military
order issued by the war ministry today
sent trained infantry reserve troops
into the Maginot line at the frontier
opposite Germany for a 2l-day period.
The order notified reservsts, their
exact number not determined, to report,
Immediately for duty at the same con-
centration points where they finished
their regular two-year military service
only three weeks ago.
The instructions were received shortly
after the government announced its
"requisition" of the port of Marseille,
placing the most important Mediter-
ranean inlet for French African troops
and supplies under military control.
The order was said to concern only
infantry fortress troops of the second
class-the lowest military class. (The
Maginot defenses generally are said to
be at normal garrison with 100000
men but officers in the zone say that
$50, 1000 would be conservative esti-
mate of the garrison's present strength.
This figure did not take account of the
lew order)
ReserviStS Are Surprised.
The instructions came as a surprise
to most reserves, and they telephoned
each other in a furry of excitement
to plan leave from their jobs, to which
they had just returned after the regu-
lar period OF service.
The war ministry declined to discuss
the order Sources close to Premier
War Minister Daladier had said that
specialists called Sunday and Mon
day, technical experts in various
branches. would be sufficient to
bolster the Maginot line as a precau-
tionary measure against possible con-
hict with Germany over the Czech
Sudeten minorities dispute.
The order specified the reserviSts
must rejoin their posts within "a hours.
This instruction differed from notices
sent out last week, in which many
French reserves were ordered to hold
themselves ready for service.
The militarys assumption Of con-
troll In Marseille port was by govern
ment decree. 1t invoked terms Of the
nations wartime organization law to
hand the strategic communications
center over to the army as the highest
French military and civil officials of
North Africa cut vacations short and
hurried back to their posts.
Next Step Up to Hitler.
Just few hours before the sudden
announcement OF the move, details
were received here of what was con-
sidered Czechoslovakia's final offer Of
concessions to autonomy demanding
Sudeten Germans, thus putting the
next step in the Central European
crisis up to Chancellor Adolf Hitler.
On the eastern frontier where
French and German troops faced each
other under virtual wartime condi-
tions. French officers estimated $780,
900 men had moved into the Maginot
Line OF French Notifications to REIN
force its normal garrison of 100000.
In view of the close secrecy govern
ing troop movements. the officers said
merely. "all is ready" They declared
the line of frontier fortresses was fully
and carefully manned.
The sequence of events in the
Mediterranean re-emphasizeu the
French determination to be prepared
for any eventuality.
Both Gen. Nogues, high commits
sioner for Morocco, and Armand
Guillon, governor general of Tunisia,
arrived by airplane last night at their
posts, having ended their vacations
after conference with Foreign Min
lister Georges Bonnet.
Georges LIE Beau, governor general
of Algeria, and Gen. Georges Cheroux,
commander of the 18th Corps Area
with headquarters in Algiers. as well
as Gen. Amedee Mollard, commander
in-chief of the defense of Corsica, all
hurriedly were sent back to duty
The decree placing Marseille under
military control was designed primarily
to end dockworkers' series of week end
strikes and insure a continuous move
ment of merchandise through the port.
The measure was drafted soon after
the strike movement began early in
July. 1t was not known whether troops
would be used to operate the port, al
though the decree gave the army that
power. President Albert Lebrun signed
the decree August 20, but it was held
in abeyance until today. when it goes
into effect with its publication in the
official journal.
Senegalese troops had been used at
the Marseille port to unload and load
perishable merchandise on Sundays
after dockworkers refused to work
week ends because Of their 40-hour
week.