PRESSURE ON NAZIS ON WESTERN FRONT

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 218, 15 September 1939, Page 7

PRESSURE ON NAZIS ON WESTERN FRONT

Heavy Guns Brought Up

GERMAN ACTION

French Threatening Important Positions

ALLIED 'PLANES BUSY

(tj)ited Press Association—C.'opyright

— Recrl. 10 a.m.)

LONDON, Septemb er 14. An official French communique reports heavy action by the enemy s heavy artillery on the heights south of Saarbrucken This is interpreted to mean that the enemy have been forced to bring up big guns to offset the French threat to important positions. An American correspondent in Paris says German reinforcements are massing behind Saarbrucken to avert its capture. It is reported that French 'planes are busy bombing heavy German artillery rushed to the Saar Valley to stem the French advance.

Authoritative quarters believe the Germans have brought up heavy guns in the belief that the French operations are emerging from the stage of an advanced guard action and are threatening important positions in the Siegfried Line.

A communique issued in Berlin admits that "stronger rrench forces than hitherto" have penetrated German territory between Saarbrucken and Hornbach. and added that the French advance was stopped by gunfire and minefields.

It.is reported from Brussels that French troops and tanks crossed the Moselle River near Luxembourg to attack German territory. Machine gun and artillery fire clearly heard in the nearby town of Schengen indicates that a severe battle is in progress.

The Paris radio announces that the French have cut off Saarbrucken by the capture of the important strategic point of i olitz. Artillery are now in position, enabling domination of the communications between Saarbrucken and Germany