WITH TROOPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 7

WITH TROOPS.

HITLER IN FRANCE.

Crosses Frontier First Time

Since 1918.

SEES FRONT LINE TRENCHES.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 10.S0 a.m.)

LONDON, December 26.

An official Berlin message states that for the first time since 1918 Hitler crossed the French frontier on Sunday near Saarbrucken and toured the Spichern heights, which the Germans recaptured several weeks ago. He passed through trenches in order to reach the heights and inspected emplacements in the front line. As Hitler left the sector a German patrol slipped into the village of Spichern and rang in Christmas Eve with church bells.

Hitler spent a further hour examining advanced posts in Saarbrucken area and personally distributed parcels to soldiers.

A Paris communique says two enemy raids were repulsed in the East Moselle area.

The German High Command states that machine-guns repulsed a British warplane attack on German patrol boats in Heligoland Bight.

R.A.F. PATROLS.

Fire Exchanged With Nazi

Vessels.

NOETH SEA ACTIVITY.

British Official Wireless. (Received noon.)

RUGBY, December 26.

The Air Ministry has Issued an announcement as follows:—"Throughout yesterday, although it was Christmas Day, the Roya! Air Force continued with unrelaxed vigilance their patrols covering our fishing fleets in the North Sea. Certain of our aircraft observed German patrol vessels in the eastern North Sea area, and- these vessels opened fire on- our aircraft, which took retaliatory bombing action. Hits were not observed and no damage was done to our aircraft."