Evening star., 1940-01-15
Million beIgians
And Dutch Massed
On German Border
Brussels Cobinet Called
For Today in Revival
Of Frontier Tension

Close to 1,0O0,O 900 Belgian and
Netherlands soldiers were reported
already at or ordered to positions
along the meandering border-a
300-mile wall through which Ger
many would have to smash to out
flank the BNtish-French allies on
the western front. Germany in the
past has denied planning any such
maneuver.
In Belgium there were disturbing
reports of new concentrations of
Nazi attack troops, while In the
Netherlands government COM
munique spoke of certain less
favorable symptoms in the inter-
national situation"
"Alarmist" Stories Denied.
The semi-oflcial Belga News
Agency however. issued a note in
Brussels denying what it called
''alarmist stories" being spread in
Belgium and abroad" and said ad
ditional mobilization was proof
only of the vigilance of the gov
ernment.
mo threat has been hidden from
the Belgian public" the note said,
land the independence of sources
of information and the liberty of
the press should inspire calm. ="
Belgium remains calm, but the army
is on its toes"
| Several newspapers expressed the
view the latest phase of Belgian
preparedness would be revoked
shortly.
/ 1t was confirmed that Belgian
Premier Hubert Pierlot conferred
with Foreign Minister Paul Henri
! Spaak Saturday night and received
foreign diplomats for exchanges of
information. A full cabinet meeting
has been called for today.
Messengers Summon Men.
! Belgium hustled about the task of
stepping up her defensive powers
Throughout Sunday. soldier-laden
trucks rolled through Brussels
toward the frontier, while messen-
gers, throughout the country. sum-
moned officers and men from their
homes. churches, cafes and theaters.
The Brussels government put into
force phase D" of her mobilization
| plan. filling in the ranks of skeleton
units with such specialists as ma
chine-gunners, artillerymen and
! tank drivers.
The final step for complete mobil-
ization would be enforcement of
phase E-likely only in event of an
actual outbreak of hostihties.
Belgian officials would not disclose
the number of men under arms, but
under phase D Belgium considers
herself on practically war footing.
AS though to clear the ground for
any eventuality. an exodus of
civilians from border provinces was
started.
Military observers estimated Bel
gums week end defense moves
brought her strength in men under
arms to about 100000 while the
Netherlands cancellation of periodic
leaves for her army. navy and air
force, officials said, will fill out her
fighting force to 100000 within two
days. 1t was estimated $4,000 had
been on leave.
Some military experts suggested
the reported German concentrations
might be merely a bluff to keep the
British and French from sending
aid to Finland, but, they added. the
low countries could not afford to
take chances on that.
The week end tension broke a
period of watchful calm in the low
countries which followed similar
reports in early November of Ger
man concentrations on the Nether-
lands border At that time, special
precautions were taken. including
the flooding of certain strategic
areas.
Winter has changed the defense
picture since then. with canals now
ice-coated, the larger rivers choked
with drifting ice and with marshy
areas and country roads hardened
by the freeze.
The week end, however, brought
some rain, fog and thawing which
tended to increase the lowlands'
potentialities for defense against
mechanical invasion, although mill
tary experts regard stretches of ice
as themselves formidable barrier.
Reports Inspired Step.
Informed sources at Brussels said
Belgian secret service reports in
spired the hurried defense measures
and one experienced observer added
that German troops might move
within the next few days.
A reliable informant said German
aerial operations a week ago in
cluded the photographing of i'm
portant Belgian industrial and de-
fense areas. A German airman who
landed in Belgium with motor
trouble was said to have carried such
photographs.
Whereas there were no signs of
tension among the Netherlands resi-
dents, advices from Belgium said
the people there showed evidence of
uneasiness.
Five hundred refugees from three
border provinces arrived at Brussels
by train, the first to reach the capi-
tai in the civilian exodus from an
area expected to bear the brunt of
any attack.
Government buildings were placed
under military guard and the guard
was doubled on roads and vital COM
munication centers. Civilians en-
listed in the preparedness move be-
gan erection of sandbag barricades
to shield important public buildings
and factories from aerial lombard
ment.
New Alarm Attributed