Though it is reported that tension in Belgium and the Netherlands has relaxed somewhat, there is still the danger of the German threat to those two countries being changed into action. For that reason it is reported that the precautions which have already been taken will be continued. Neither of the two threatened countries have gone so far as to declare a general mobile n, but what they have done is only one step short of such a development. To effect the last stage would now be only a matter of a few hours, and to all intents and purposes the Lowlands are in a complete state of defence. Despite German protestations denying any contemplated attack on those two countries, Government circles in Brussels state they had reason over the weekend to expect "grave events." That reason is to be found in the general tone of the German press and the disposition of forces along the borders of Holland and Belgium. It is still to be feared that the German forces will continue to remain close to the threatened borders, and it is thought that when vigilance in the Lowlands has somewhat relaxed they will attack with lightning speed. There is, however, very little likelihood that there will be any diminution_of the efficiency with which the two countries will watch over the territorial integrity, and little doubt that both Holland and Belgium will be able to hold off German attacks until the Allies can go to their aid. The defences which those two countries possess have been prepared embodying all the lessons learned as the result of the last war, and with present-day preparedness there is very little chance of the German armies securing any advantage from surprise such as they did when they invaded Belgium twenty-five years ago. The history of the past four months has shown that the Blitzkrieg theory can only succeed against poorly-equipped or unprepared nations, and even though Herr Hitler may decide to try and force the issue he will meet with a resistance which may bring about his defeat. The decision as to when actual fighting will break out is left entirely to him, though it may be confidently expected that though he may decide when it will commence, the Allies will in their turn decide for him when it shall be ended.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.