The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-10

the general staff needs only to push
a button and the inundation can be-
gin with water rushing into the het,
low meadowlands, large portions Of
which were evacuated a few weeks
ago.
Cattle Gone Zoo
Even the cattle have gone. There
are deserted farms everywhere, sur
rounded by newly dug canals along
which stretch the defense lines -
easements, pill boxes and trenches.
There are strong defenses every
hundred yards, in some places every
hundred feet.
During the early hours Of this
morning my car, for sometimes as
much as an hour In pitch darkness,
trailed behind long conveys Of empty
trucks and occasional horse drawn
artillery batteries.
Although for the most part the
Netherlands army is mechanical she
general staff holds that when the
country is Inundated 1t Is essential
to have horses available to draw
guns along small roads where water
would be tapping on both sides.
In case Of attack the general stairs
idea Is that the heavier the attack
and the greater the mechanical
equipment of the attackers the east
er will be the defense. Mechanical
batteries, tanks and other heavy
equipment, they anticipated, would
sink slowly In the DOGGY rnire Of the
low country.
Pumping Stations Work
Pumping stations everywhere were
working day and night to keep wa
ter In reservoirs and canals at the
highest level so that the country
could be flooded Immediately If
dykes were cut and the sluices In
the zuyder Zee, the main reservoir
OF Holland, were opened.
stood on the beach Of Yssel Lake
as the zuyder Zee now Is known,
and noticed that the water in the
inland sea was very high. If its
sluices were opened there would be
a tremendous thrush Of water which
would sweep everything in front Of
Fem inside the borders Of scores of
dykes.
Whenever I rleared the edges of
the small Fem reservoir, which Is
Just outside Lake Yssel, steel helmet
ed, heavily armed guards jumped
out and waved lanterns. They or
dered me to halt Immediately.
Rifles Always Ready
Any moment of hesitation would
bring rifles down in my direction.
Each time I was asked politely
where I was going, whether had
permission and whether I could pass
the burgomaster in the next village.
My negative replies were followed py
polite requests to turn my car AROUND
and follow an inland road.
During recent days tens Of thou
sands OF additional troops have
moved into various positions on the
frontier. I saw many on the march
along the roads as soon as dawn
broke while whole battalions, armed
with shovels, continued work on the
new defenses.
Farmers In the neighborhood, how.
ever, told me emphatically that this
same activity has been going on
since mobilization was ordered at
the outbreak Of war. Whole armies
OF civilian workmen also are EN-.
ployed IN erecting imposing defense
works along the big canals.
Calm OF People
throughout the tour I was i'm
pressed by the calm of the inhabi-
tants and soldiers even In what were
supposed to be danger zones.
In some old zuyder Zee villages,
girls, wearing quaint medieval cos
tunes, smiled and waved as passed.
1t Is the custom. I was struck es-
pecially by the efficiency Of the army
guards who were directing traffic.
They saw that army conveys moved
first but at the same time they hast.
ened the passage Of civilian cars.
They even speede dup the movement
OF barges on the canals to avoid Jams
which might blockade the canals
and weaken the defense system.
On the drive back to Amsterdam
noticed everywhere laborers on
their push bikes chatting happily as
they went to work in shops or fields.
Children were playing and women
were standing on the doorsteps. ex-
changing village gossip.
Once, after taking q wrong turn.
ing, I asked my way Of a wooden.
shoed farmer.
Easy to Start Water
1T seems that you all have been
drowned already here" said.
Sure" he said. mot only are we
keeping the water up to the edge
but we can let 1t out at any moment.
And be sure that we will, II neces-
sary."
Before going home I made a de-
tour to Doom and took q look az
Castle Doom, thehome Of exiled ex-
Kaiser Wilhelm. I asked of most re-
liable sources whether he was plan-
ming to move. I was assured that
Wilhelm was not going away, that he
was following his daily routine and
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