Evening star., 1939-04-14
German Fleet 10 Sail
For Maneuvers Off
Spanish Coast
Greet Brituin BIuffina
On Pledges, Berlin
Press Charges
By the Associated Pres,

B, the Associated Press.
BERLIN, April 14.-An official
communique disclosed today that
more than Is German feet units,
from battleships to submarines, will
leave home ports for one month Of
foreign training off Spain, Portugal,
Spanish Morocco and Tangier, inter-
nationalized zone of Morocco.
The spring maneuvers, the COM
munique said. would revive an "old
tradition of the German Navy-in-
terrupted by the Spanish civil war. "
The naval force, numbering IS
ships exclusive of auxiliaries, will
leave next Tuesday from Kiel and
Wilhelmshaven bases, it was an
nounced.
Reports that some vessels already
had left Kiel and were enroute today
for rendezvous off Spain's Atlantic
coast were said to have resulted
from confusion" over the status of
the maneuvers.
Ports in Spain, Portugal, Spanish
Morocco and Tangier' will be visited,
the communique said. The ma
neuvering force will include two
batt.eships. two cruisers. six de-
stroyers, Is submarines and auxiliary
craft. Paris and London were said
to have been advised of the ma
neuvers.
Press Assails Britain.
Plans for the exercises were car
ried forward while the NaZ press
assailed Britain anew for her policy
of guaranteeing Eastern European
nations against any aggression of
the Rome Berlin axis.
Commenting on yesterdays guar
antees to Greece and Rumania, the
newspapers declared Britain was
bluffng.
Officials said they did not expect
the warships to enter the Mediter-
ranean further than Tangier during
the maneuvers but it was not ex-
cluded that some units might cruise
III the Mediterranean afterward.
These sources insisted the games
had no connection with present in
ternational affairs.
Although in official comment the
British policy had been described as
driving Europe toward a new "peo-
pies murder" unofficial but au-
thoritative quarters interpreted the
naval movement as q sure sign the
German government did not regard
the present European situation as
critical.
Informed sources said Germany
never would permit the war vessels
to go so far from home nor to travel
through the English Channel if the
present situation were regarded as
critical.
Guarantees "Worthless."
The press said the guarantees such
as Britain has given to Poland,
Greece and Rumania-the Greek
and Rumanian commitments were
given yesterday-hadn not been asked
for by "the small nations" and were
worthless.
Although France has given paral-
lei commitments. the brunt of the
press attack was against Britain.
Reichsfuehrer Hitler's newspaper,
the Voelkischer Beobachter, head
ed its report and commentary with
British bluf1 against European re-
construction and Greece and Ru-
mania are proteges against their
will"
The newspaper said Prime Min
lister Chamberlain declaration in
the House Of Commons revealed the
"sterility' of British political think
ing.
1T seems as if the traditional
umbrella hinders the view of these
people upon those actual happen
ings around them" it commented
with figurative reference to Mr.
Chamberlain's famous umbrella.
Voelkischer Beobachter said Brit
ish policy was imperialism of the
worst kind"
Declaration Called Bluff.
The newspaper comment followed
the trend Of earlier derisive utter
ances of officially inspired COM
mentaries, Deutsche Dienst, issued
by the oficial news agency, and
Deutsche Diplomatisch- Politische
Korrespondenz, semi-omcial mouth
piece Of the foreign office.
Deutsche Dienst said the declara-
ton was merely a great big bluff,
and made no impression on the
axis powers"
The foreign Office mouthpiece said
Greece had no cause to fear attack
and "as concerns Rumania, there is
every reason not to believe that
England would be willing to protect
Rumania against Russia, who - .
does not recognize the territorial in
tegrity of Rumania, but with whom
England = stands in the most
intimate contact-with the same
determination as against Germany"
Rumania acquired Bessarabia