SITUATION DELICATE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 211, 14 June 1940, Page 5

SITUATION DELICATE.

ENORMOUS GERMAN FORCES. MOVE TO ENCIRCLE PARIS. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) • LONDON, June 13. The War Office spokesman said: “The Germans have thrown in still more troops, and their strength at present is 120 divisions. The French counterattacks near Persan and Beaumont, which is 14 miles north of Paris pi ogressed up to five miles. The French are holding everywhere, but a delicate point exist* in the Champagne, where tho Germans are pushing hard in a attempt to. separate our armies from the Maginot Line. The Germans have probably occupied Rheiins, from which the French have'withdrawn. ‘The Germans driving westward toward Le Havre are also trying to encircle Paris from the west and east. The situation is most critical in the Rheims and Lower Seine regions. “The Italians have not operated on land or sea, but have made some air raids.

“Tho French and British air forces have been active. They bombed Manheim, Neustadt and Frankfurt in addition to tho enemy’s rear, The Germans raided the east of Paris, Evroux and Mantes.