FRENCH ARMY STILL OPPOSING ENEMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1940, Page 7

FRENCH ARMY STILL OPPOSING ENEMY.

GERMAN DRIVE.

Half Million Men Leave

Maginot Line.

ESCAPE INVADERS , TEAP.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 1 p.m.)

LONDON, June 18

It is authoritatively stated that the French Army is still fighting in various regions. The German drive is continuing strongly, particularly in the south-east. There is not much German activity in the west.

The military spokesman said that the French are fighting along the Loire on a line through Tours, Blois and Orleansand are strongly resisting the Germans, who lost heavily when they attempted to cross the river yesterday.

The spokesman added that the Germans have full possession of France, northward of the Loire except in a part of Brittany.

The Berlin radio stated that French units in the Maginot Line had desperately but unsuccessfully . counterattacked in an attempt to break through the Germa.li ring. Some 20,000 French were taken prisoner. Nazi Abase of White Flag.

The French High Command to-night in a statement said over the radio: "Enemy columns are advancing J'.nder cover of the white flag in order to achieve important advances without a fijrht. All Franco-British combatants are hereby reminded that the armistice is not yet operating and arms.have not been laid down. Only the negotiations, which have not yet begun, are contemplated. Therefore, it is everyone's duty to resist."

The French radio announced that the' Army of the Maginot Line is intact and is carrying out the necessary re-group-ment.. Appeal to the Public. M. Charles Fommaret, Minister of the Interior, in a broadcast, appealed to the public to keep all routes free for movements of troops. "In your villages and homes you are safe. The Government has decided that towns of over 20,000 inhabitants will be open towns, providing shelter from bombardment. "The Army is still fighting and order must be preserved behind the lines. France still lives and will live." i The Associated Press of Great Britain Basle correspondent says fuither Maginot Line fortress troops, nuinberling about 500,000, to-day escaped from the Germans in the Alsace-Lorraine trap, to join the French Aruiy -»f th* south.

A Berne message states tbat civilian refugees, numbering 1500, crossed th? French frontier into Switzerland; also numerous detachments of French soldiers, who were interned. A French hospital train arrived at Berne with wounded.

The French radio announcer said: "It is necessary to wait for news with calm sangfroid. The French people are not prepared and never will be prepared to accept anything bnt an honourable * peace."