Evening star., 1940-01-14
Hy the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BRUSSELS, Jan. IA (Sunday).-
Belgium, by radio and courier, late
last night suddenly called all SOL
diers on leave back to their posts
throughout the kingdom.
There was no official explanation.
Private reports, however, said that
strong German troop concentra-
tions and movements on the frontier
seemed to have been behind the
order.
Messengers sped through Brussels
In freezing weather and entered
cafes, theaters and night clubs to
summon soldiers and officers.
Earlier, the defense ministry had
cancelled air raid precautions trials
scheduled for today Here, also,
officials made no explanation.
New Men Summoned.
There were indications that new
men were being called to the colors.
Several groups of officers living in
Brussels hotels checked out sud-
denly.
The sound of constant artillery
fire was heard across the frontier
from Luxembourg, but the Grand
Duchy itself was reported COM
pletely calm.
In the Netherlands, officials at the
Hague said the cancellation of Bel
gian leaves left the situation un-
changed for the Dutch.
There is not single reason for
disquiet," they added
This was the third time since the
European war began that Belgian
soldiers have been recalled abruptly
from leave.
Last November Belgium mobilized
$4,000 men for a state of active
defense" 1t was not announced
how many men would be affected
by last nights order.
Protective Measures" Taken.
The action followed foreign Of
fee communique early yesterday
which said certain protective
measures had been taken during
Friday
Without explaining the nature Of
these measures, The statement said
they were decided upon previously
by the government and constituted
application of a defense plan pre-
pared in the first days of mobiliza-
ton"
A later statement explained that
the communique had been issued to
quiet fears in the Liege and Verviers
districts where some workmen had
been drafted for labor. Confusion
had arisen in the districts over
rumors that the country was at war
Canal Backbone of Defense.
Belgians believe a German at
tempt to invade their little country
will not meet with the success it did
in 1914.
Military men say the Albert Canal,
the Liege fortifcation system and
the defense works to the northeast
will give the little Belgian Army a
chance to hold back the NaZi legions
until help comes.
Backbone of the defense is the
canal which runs rs miles from the
Ardennes Mountains to the sea at
Antwerp. 1t is $50 feet wide and
from Is to 20 feet deep-a fofmid-
able water hazard.
The canal is said to answer the
Did infantry sergeant's rule for a
perfect fight:
Clean out clear field of fire and
then blast hell out of the enemy"
The first line of defense is along
the IS miles of Belgium's common
frontier with Germany. Fortresses
at Eupen and Malmedy have been
linked and extended by system of
trenches, blockhouses and reinforced
concrete machine gun nests which
would exact a heavy toll of attack
ing troops.
May Hold Out for Weeks.
Behind this is stronger line of
9. Notifications fashioned after the
French Maginot Line and then
comes the canal.
Belgium'S army entrenched be-
hind these fortifications might hold
. superior invading army at bay
for weeks, military experts say.
Chief weakness in the Belgian
defense is in the air-a weakness
which proved disastrous for Poland.
However. the closeness of France
and England would insure the
help of their combined air forces
(See BELGIUM, Page A-8)