Evening star., 1938-09-05

LTe0LleS.
b. the Associated Press.
PARIS, Sept. 5.-An official Of the
war ministry announced today that
France had called certain reserves"
to the colors as q precautionary
measure"
The call went out last night, the
oficial said, after Germany had moved
an estimated 10000 troops into her
new Siegfried line of Notifications.
just across the Rhine from Frances
famed Maginot line.
I'VE can give no information con-
cerning the number or location OF
these reserves" the Official said. I'VE
are watching the situation closely
and will continue to do So
He emphasized that there was no
immediate cause for alarm on the
part of the French public.
A source at the air ministry said
all leaves in the air force had been
Cancelled, but up to the present no air
force reserves had been called.
A navy ministry official said 1.-THE
French navy always is ready to take
to the seas" but no special orders
have as yet been issued.
To Bolster Fortifications.
Havas, French news agency, said
the hoH haay lnL
bolster fortifications near the German.
frontier against "eventualities" which
may result from Reicnsfuehrer Hitlerx
announcements at the Nazi congress
opening today at Nurnberg.
Because of the international situ-s
alton and due to important reinforce
ments Of men and materiaN by Ger
many on our northeastern frontier,
the government has found it necessary
to take certain number of security
measures" said Havas.
Thus it was that to maintain at
their complete strength the fortress
(Maginot Line), troops reserves were
called to the colors. Soldiers on Leave
officers and men-also received orders
to rejoin their garrisons. 1t was ques-
tion of inevitable measures of pre-
caution.
Sees Situation Relaxing.
These measures should not excite
public opinion, calmness of which is
one of the essential elements for the
maintenance of peace.
ALSO from the latest information
the general situation seems rather to
be relaxing"
One report published in Paris was
that all French frontier regiments
were confined to barracks. that all
leaves were Cancelled and that officers
and men urgently were recalled to
their units.
Because of the natural secrecy i'm
posed by the war ministry on troop
movements, it was impossible to con-
firm the report. Oficers at Nancy.
however, confirmed the issuance of
such orders there-headquarter for
the goth Corps Area. which includes
two-thirds of the border region.
Some French observers. openly ex-
pressed fear that the appearance over
the week end of German troops for the
new Siegfried Notifications system, be-
ieved here to be incomplete. meant
that Chancellor Hitler was planning
to use the Nuremberg Nazi congress to
deliver an ultimatum demanding
Frances ally, Czechoslovakia. grant
full autonomy to the Sudeten German
minority.
These observers felt that European
tension was approaching a critical
stage, and they echoed a speech yes
terday by Foreign Minister Georges
Bonnet.
Admits Situation Is Grave.
"We do not seek to hide the gravity
Of the Czechoslovak problem" Bon
net said at the dedication of Pointe
de Grave monument to the United
States participation in the World War.
Editorial writer's in several papers
close to the government insisted that
the only sure way to guarantee peace
was for Britain to issue formal warm
ing to Germany, that would leave no
possibility Of doubt that she would
fight with France If Czechoslovakia
were invaded.
Morning newspapers divided their
space about equally between specu-
lation on Hitler's next move and
praise for Ambassador William c.
Bullitt's speech at the monument
dedication.