RUSHING UP MORE TROOPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 247, 19 October 1939, Page 7

RUSHING UP MORE TROOPS

Nazis Now Very Active

DEFENCES DUG Hundreds Of British Guns Massed On Front PREMIER'S TRIBUTE (United Press Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 18. The Germans to-night are reported to be still rushing up remforcements to support the units which have gained a precarious footing in the vicinity of French territory on the extreme northern flank of the Western Front from which the French had strategically retired on Monday. The American Associated Press declares thousands of new are pouring into the fighting zone, while others are hastily erecting barbed wire barricades and digging trenches and tank traps in the positions reached during IVlonday s offensives. A communique issued to-night in Paris states there has been no change along the whole front. Reconnaissance units are very active, notably between the Moselle and the Saar. While a German communique claims that the French have retired between the Moselle and the Palatinate Forest, the fact is that the thin French outposts waited till the Germans were advancing and then fired rockets as a signal to artillery and machine guns which laid down a barrage on them. The French were meanwhile falling back to pre-arranged positions. Once the Germans reached the first real line of the French defences they met a veritable wall of fire, which abruptly halted them. Trains and motor wagons poured in Germans throughout the night behind the lines. It is revealed that hundreds of British guns, ranging from massive howitzers to motorised anti-tank guns, are massed in the British sector of the Western Front. , "The British Expeditionary Force has now finally taken over its allotted sector of the French line. All the divisions are in position, said Mr. Chamberlain .in his statement in the House of Lomtfions. We are proud to know our men are thus standing to their arms beside the soldiers of France, for whose patriotism, determination and magnificent qualities we have such deep admiration. The understanding between the British and French higher commands is complete."