Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12
War on Land


War on Land
Preparations for war in lowland coun-
tries of Netherlands and Belgium over
Swallowed actual fighting along static
French-German lines.
Apparently abandoning hope their
Joint peace proffer in early part Of week
would lead to any cessation of hostilities,
small but strategically located neutrals
intensified defense activities.
Evacuating several communities in
central valley of low country, around
Utrecht and Lent, Dutch let flood waters
in as first line of defense. With inten-
ton of abandoning most of eastern part
OF country should Germans attempt in
vasion, flooding of central portion and
posting of defense forces west of flooded
areas indicated their strategy to be
concentration on holding industrial
western region. In this section are
Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam
Communicated for Dutch defensive
operations were Buses trains, ships; in
terrupted were normal commercial and
passenger services. At The Hague,
where Peace Palace stands as one of
worlds show places, ambulance units
were ordered to stand by for possible air
raid duty. Border incident" increased
tension. American diplomatic officers
recommended departure of Americans.
In Belgium. early battle-ground of last
war, reserves were called up to bring
first-line fighting force to 100000 men.
All Belgian roads from German and
Netherlands frontiers we're placed under
defense. highway and railroad bridges
were mined, trenches dug, whole region
back as far as Louvain placed under con-
slant surveillance.
AS do Dutch. Belgians place important
defense reliance in water line" particu-
larly in the 95-mile
Woter Defense Albert Canal between
For LowIonds Liege and Antwerp.
Constructed as de-
Tense instrument as well as commercial
route, canal is fortified by camouf1aged
blockhouses and mined bridges. fully
manned for past three months. At some
points, 18O-foot cliffs offer natural out
posts
German occupation of North Sea sea-
board of Holland would be particularly
dangerous to Britain with Nazi air forces
conceivably based scant hour from i'm
portant industrial areas of England.
With Netherlands for past century be-
Ing no more than second-rate military
power at best, tiny country has been
directly dependent upon British for any
required defense of valuable Dutch colo
NAL possessions. Close relationship
thus existing is sure to be operative in
present crisis if conditions demand.
Behind scenes, Germans have been re-
ported attempting to keep Dutch and
Belgians from joint defense agreement;
apparent reason being possible German
drive through Holland. but strict OBJ
servance of Belgian neutrality. BY such
tactic, French would be cut off from
direct overland means of speeding mill
tary assistance to Hollanders unless per-
mission could be quickly gained for
movement of troops across Belgium.
Developments of week indicate, how
ever, that Dutch and Belgians have de-
cided to sink or swim together.
From reconnaissance flights, French
estimated on Friday that two main con-
centrations of German
Germans Moss forces are along Sieg-
Near HoIlond fried line between
Rhine and Moselle
Rivers and northward opposite Dutch
frontier. AS many as 100000 men could
be moved into attack in single night,
French estimate of German strength,
with as many more in immediate re-
serve
So effective has been allied reconnais-
sance, it was reported by one observer
that Germans recently have undertaken
extensive changes in camouflage ar
rangements of Siegfried line.
French, claiming selves in readiness
for any frontal attack on German border
also are keeping lighter but still we'll
fortified Belgian frontier under full de-
fensive strength.
Only actual land fighting of week cen
tered about Forbach salient, where
French still hold positions commanding
Industrial German city of Saarbruecken.
Steadily for four days, Nazi artillery
pounded at peninsula like salient in at
tempt to drive French back to Maginot
line proper. Although poilus held on
grimly, French command admitted that
small triangle of territory is vulnerable
spot. probably would not be defended if
any major assault should be launched
against it.
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