FALL EXPECTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 300, 2 October 1939, Page 5

FALL EXPECTED

INVESTMENT OF SAARBRUCKEN. ADVANCE BY THE FRENCH. NAZI WEAKNESS REVEALED. PARIS, September 30. Semi-official sources declare that the fall of Saarbrucken can he expected shortly. It is claimed that threefourths of the city is already invested, and if the Germans do not abandon it soon they will run the risk of being cut off from the main Siegfried Line several miles behind the city. The French are exercising pressure to form a pincer movement against the central fortifications. Three results have already been achieved—(l) The Germans have been obliged to bring up reinforcements, revealing their nervousness; (2) A complete evacuation of the mining region has begun; (3) Mining operations for the remainder of the Avar ha\ T e been made very difficult. The military export of “Lo Petit Parisien” declares it is a plain fact that the Germans are unable to halt the French advance, revealing their coun-ter-offensive weakness in spite of the participation of the largest part of the divisions charged Avith the defence of the Siegfried Line. Enemy artillery fire is continuing on the Western Front. The Germans launched a counter-attack near the Luremburg frontier, but this Avas repulsed by the French. Further activity resulted in the.. French capturing a German fort.' It is uoav claimed that the French are a mile nearer the Siegfried Line. The Aveather is becoming cold and A r ery trying for the front-line troops, especially at night. Poland’s gallant stand has helped French mobilisation and concentration to proceed 'unimpeded, and British concentration to begin- under normal conditions. The Allied High Command will not only enter German territory, but Avill occupy strongly-held positions facing the West Wiall, facilitating future operations, and the French armies will obtain the cohesion and co-ordination so necessary Avlien millions of men take the field. A night communique issued in Paris reports: “The enemy took artillery action east from the Moselle as a reprisal for French bombing. Both air forces Avcre very active. The general tendency of operations is becoming siegelike.”