Evening star., 1938-09-06

Rhine from frances MGginot line,
has created state OF alarm in
France. In DieD of Germanys So
called 1naneuDers and strained ST.
deten situation, France yesterday
called certain reserpes" to the COL
ors as precautionary measure"
BY the Associated Press.
IN THE MAGINOT ZONE, North
eastern France, Sept. 6-Tens OF
thousands of troops and thousands OF
tons of military equipment arrived In
Northeastern France and vanished
into the Maginot Line today.
Frances border population talked OF
little else besides the calling to the
colors Of an estimated 100000 re-
servists to watch for trouble from
over there"
Over there" to Frenchmen in the
Maginot zone. means the German side
of the frontier where the new Siegfried
line was manned with strong force
of Germany's crack troops.
In the main streets of Metz. Verdun,
Nancy and other Maginot zone centers
there were fewer troops visib.c than
usual. The answer was that all leaves
were Cancelled and that the troops re-
mained in the underground fortifica-
tions and garrisons of the Maginot
zone.
Troop trains brought thousands to
these centers, but most of them DROP
ped off at tiny hamlets which are only
dots on tourist maps but of vital i'm
portance on military maps.
"He'-that means Adolf Hitler in
the frontier Zone-"Would think long
time if he knew what waits under
these fields" said an officer near the
border.
Frontier on War FoOtinx.
The highways and byways OF the
Maginot area showed travellers who
knew what to look for that Frances
Northeastern frontier was on a war
footing.
Whenever civilian motorists stop on
the roads in certain regions armed
soldiers suddenly appear from the
middle OF apparently deserted pastures
and terselv order the travellers on.
We only warn you once" the SEN
tries say.
Since last Friday activity on the
Maginot roads has been particularly
heavy. Whole truck trains of supplies
come and go.
All along the roads little groups of
soldiers returning from leave march
back to their posts.
"Reservers do not take the hjph-
ways an officer said. They get off
their trains and step right into the
line"
Sentries seen along the roads were
a cross s-sectlon of the forces which
France now has in the Maginot zone.
There were bearded Algerians in dusty
gray tunics; regular fortress troops in
smart blue uniforms and blue berets
all with gas masks in tin boxes at their
hlps: husky dark Moroccan troops with
Khaki turbans; conscript soldiers in
horizon blue uniforms: Central African
troops with red sashes around their
waists, and tall, broad-shouldered
Senegalese sharpshooters.
Roads Under Guard,
PARIS, Sept. 6 (P,.-All army CORPS
commanders on duty at general head
quarters in Paris were instructed to
return to their commands today
Leaves were Cancelled throughout the
army and air force.
The Chamber of Deputies Sub
committee on Army Affairs was called
to meet tomorrow in an urgent session
to be devoted to the question of pro-
duction Of war material.
Keep Contact With Allies.
Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet
and Premier Edouard Daladier were in
constant contact. The foreign min
lister kept in touch with the allies of
France, comforting with Ambassador
Sir Eric Phipps of Great Britain and
the ministers of the Balkan and the
little entente nations tCzechoslovak,a
Rumania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Greece
and Bulgaria..
French spokesmen emphasized that
the calling up of the reserves was in
no way mobilization-not even un-
ofhclal mobilization such as that by
which the French estimate Germany
has 100000 men under arms.
At the same time, however, Daladjer
was making sure France would be
ready for any emergency.
(The official German news agency
said: Germany never has con-
tested the right of any nation to
resort to necessary meg s,,res for ite